Print version of Athens Outdoor Guide

Transcription

Welcome!
Athens Area Outdoor Guide
Welcome to Athens County and all of southeast Ohio. This is a wild and scenic area that abounds in outdoor recreation
opportunities. We hope that you’ll check these out. There are many of us working to make these happen! We have
opportunities for hiking, bicycling (road and mountain), horse-riding, rock-climbing, swimming, fishing, hunting, canoeing
and kayaking, nature study, camping, and almost everything else. We’ve made this guide for you, the outdoor enthusiast.
Table of Contents
Part I:
Part II:
About Our Sponsors
Activities
Trails-mountain biking
Trails-hiking
Trails-horse
Trails-motorized
Picnicking
Geocaching and Orienteering
Camping
Hunting
Canoeing, Kayaking and Boating.
Fishing
Swimming.
Skateboarding
Cross-country Skiing
Climbing and Rappeling
Disc Golf
Nature Study
Outdoor Recreation for People with Disabilities
Part III: Public Land Areas
Wayne National Forest
State Forests
State Parks
State Nature Preserves
State Wildlife Areas
State Memorials
Other Areas (including local parks and private lands)
Part IV: Business Guide
Bibliography
Index
Advertisers
Cover: Buckeye Rocks, Waterloo Wildlife Research Station
Page 3
Page 4
Page 5
Page 6
Page 8
Page 10
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Page 12
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Page 13
Page 14
Page 19
Page 19
Page 19
Page 19
Page 20
Page 22
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Page 22
Page 23
Page 23
Page 24
Page 27
Page 34
Page 36
Page 39
Page 40
Page 43
Page 48
Page 50
Page 52
Above: Rockhouse, Log Cabin Hollow, Zaleski State Forest
Burr Oak State Park
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contour interval = 20'
To the users of this guide:
This is intended to be only the first edition of an ongoing project to promote outdoor recreation and ecotourism
in southeast Ohio. It is hoped that this guide will be published biennually. I anticipate a new edition in spring of
2014. There will be many corrections, I’m sure, to the first edition!
This is a good time to see many of these areas. The current governor has plans to systematically log state parks,
and hopes to have extensive drilling and fracking in state parks and state forests. He also plans to convert Burr Oak
State Park to an ATV park, so this summer may be the last time to enjoy this park as it is.
There is more information and more and better maps at the on-line guide. Go to www.athenstrails.org and click
on the menu item for the guide. The intent had been to load this guide with usable, good-quality, full-color maps of
EVERY property cited, but funding limitations prevented that.
Driving distances are approximations only. These will be more fine-tuned in the next edition of this guide.
Please feel free to submit your observations on distances and directions – as well as any other feedback. Send them
to info@athenstrails.org.
We welcome new advertisers and sponsors.
John Knouse, editor
Sponsors of this guide
Athens Trails is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating and maintaining a
quality trail system and trail programs in the Athens area. They have been instrumental
in providing a network of top-quality trails. The website has a wealth of information on
trails and trail outing opportunities, and also features great maps of trail venues and
other subjects. Membership is a minimum of $10 per year per person.
Website: www. athenstrails.org
The Athens Conservancy is a nonprofit land trust located in Athens, Ohio.
It acquires land for nature preserves, public recreation and other public
purposes, assists private landowners in protecting their land through
conservation easements, supports control of invasive exotic plants, provides
mapping services, and otherwise supports ecotourism and outdoor
recreation. Membership is a minimum of $10 per year per person.
Website: www.athensconservancy.org
Friends of Strouds Run State Park is a friends group that supports the Strouds Run State
Park through fund-raising, trail-building and maintenance, support for park activities,
planning, and public information. All are welcome to join; membership is free, although
contributions are certainly welcome.
Website: www.friendsofstroudsrun.org
Hocking River Commission is a nonprofit organization
concerned with protecting the Hocking River, preserving lands along its banks, and supporting outdoor
recreation on the river. They are also building the
Hocking River Water Trail.
Website: www.hockingrivercommision.org
The Athens Farmers Market provides a venue for local food producers to sell their products and
produce, and an opportunity for the public to buy locally-grown, locally-produced food that is often
grown as naturally as possible. It is a great element in our local economy. Open every Saturday 101, and Wednesdays 10-1 from April through Christmas.
Website: www.athensfarmersmarket.org
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Trails
Southeast Ohio offers trails for hikers, horseback riders, mountain-bike riders, and motorized vehicles. There are three
good backpacking trails within our area. The best-known is what we call in this guide the BENCAD Trail. This stands for
Buckeye-North Country-American Discovery Trail, because these three long-distance trails are combined in our area. This
trail passes through many tracts of public lands in the area of guide (consecutively from southwest to northeast; areas in this
guide are in bold): Shawnee State Forest, Pike State Forest, Pike Lake State Park, Fort Hill State Memorial, Serpent Mound
State Memorial, Davis State Memorial, Scioto Trail State Forest, Tar Hollow State Forest, Hocking State Forest/Hocking
Hills State Park, Lake Logan State Park, Wayne National Forest (Athens District), Wallace H. O'Dowd State Wildlife
Area, Burr Oak State Park, AEP ReCreation Lands, Wayne National Forest (Marietta District).
There is a 40-mile backpacking trail in Shawnee State Forest (page 24) and a 23.5-mile backpacking trail in Zaleski State
Forest (page 24). In addition, the 37-mile combined trail system of Strouds Run State Park and the Athens Trail system
features one backpacking campsite (page 27, map page 1).
The following public open-space areas have trail systems:
Wayne National Forest (page 23)
Athens District: hiking (Wildcat Hollow Trail - page 6, BENCAD Trail - page 8), horse (Stone Church Trail system,
21 miles, 10 camping sites), motorized (Dorr Run and Long Run)
Ironton District: hiking, horse (Vesuvius Horse Trails, 46 miles)
Marietta District: hiking, horse (Kinderhook Horse Trail, 12 miles)
State Parks
Strouds Run State Park (page 27, map page 1): 24 miles biking, 11 miles horse; 36 miles total
Burr Oak State Park (page 28, map page 2): hiking (including BENCAD Trail), 11.5 miles horse; 26 miles total
Lake Hope State Park (page 29, map page 30): hiking, 22 miles biking; 26 miles total
Forked Run State Park (page 29, map page 31): 5 miles hiking; 5 miles total
Hocking Hills State Park (page 31, map page 33): hiking (including BENCAD Trail), 4 miles biking, 17 miles total
Lake Logan State Park (page 34): hiking (including BENCAD Trail)
Tar Hollow State Park (page 33): hiking
State Forests
Shawnee State Forest (page 24): hiking (including Shawnee Backpacking Trail, BENCAD Trail), horse
Zaleski State Forest (page 24): 23 miles hiking (including Zaleski Backpacking Trail), 20 miles horse; 49 miles total
Tar Hollow State Forest (page 25): hiking (including BENCAD Trail), horse; miles total
Hocking State Forest (page 25): 11 miles horse, 9.5 hiking (BENCAD Trail); 20.5 miles total, also rock-climbing area
Perry State Forest (page 26): 5.6 miles horse, 12 APV; 18 miles total
Dean State Forest (page 26): 11.5 miles horse; 11.5 miles total
Richland Furnace State Forest (page 27): APV
Gifford State Forest (page 27): hiking
Desonier State Nature Preserve (page 34): hiking; 2.4 miles
Boord State Nature Preserve (page 35): hiking; 0.7 mile
Conkles Hollow State Nature Preserve (page 35):
2.6 miles hiking, including 0.6 mile wheelchair-accessible
Rock Bridge State Nature Preserve (page 35): hiking
Lake Katharine State Nature Preserve (page 35): hiking
Waterloo Wildlife Research Station (page 36): hiking
Fox Lake Wildlife Area (page 37): hiking (less than a mile)
State Memorials
Buckeye Furnace State Memorial (page 39): hiking
Other areas
The Ridges (Ohio University) (page 40): hiking
Lake Snowden (Hocking College) (page 40): 8.6 miles horse, 1.1 miles additional hiking
Strouds Ridge Preserve (City of Athens) (page 27, map page 1): hiking, biking
Clear Creek Metro Park (page 41): hiking
AEP ReCreation Lands (page 41): hiking, biking, horse riding
Gavin Power Plant Hunting Lands (page 42): horse riding
There are several class 4 -5 trails for foot traffic, bicycling, and in some cases, horse riding.
Hockhocking-Adena Bikeway: This bikeway is a fully developed Class 5 bikeway that extends from the City of Nelsonville
southeast through the City of Athens, for a total of about 21 miles (there is a section on the Ohio University campus that does
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not meet the same modern standards as the rest of the bikeway, but is useable). All foot traffic, bicycle traffic, and other nonmotorized users are allowed. In addition, motorized wheelchairs are permitted for users with relevant disabilities. Most of
this rail-trail is on the former right-of-way of the Hocking Valley Railroad, later the C&O line. The bikeway loops around
Athens on the banks of the Hocking River. The bikeway connects with the Athens Trail near the eastern end of both.
More information can be found at www.seorf.ohiou.edu/~xx088.
The trail may be reached from behind Rocky Boots in Nelsonville, Robbins Crossing at Hocking College, County Road 4
(Glen Ebon Road) at the Hocking River bridge, at the Beaumont parking area (Lemaster Road, 1/4 mi west of OH-682
between The Plains and Chauncey), at Eclipse Village in The Plains, from West State Street Park and East State Street Park
in Athens, and from the bikeway trailhead on East State Street in Athens (adjacent to the Pepsi warehouse).
B&O Railroad Trail: This is the newest trail, and is still under development. Currently, it parallels Frost Road in Rome and
Troy Townships for most of its length but with gaps of private land, and then swings eastward to Torch and the Washington
County line. For detailed information on what’s public and what’s private, go to www.athenstrails.org. This trail is open to
hikers, bicyclists and horses. No trailheads have yet been created.
Moonville Rail-Trail: The Moonville Rail-Trail is the portion of the old B&O Railroad grade that extends from the Diamond
Powder Plant in Vinton County to the unincorporated village of Mineral in Athens County. However, many bridges were
removed for scrap and the bridges are in the process of being replaced. So far, two bridges have been completed, enabling use
of a six-mile section from the village of Zaleski to Hope School, and a third bridge is under construction at Moonville Tunnel.
Users may complete the six miles of the finished section then use back roads to reach the Moonville Tunnel area. The
Moonville Trail accommodates all muscle-powered users, including equestrians. It has a graveled surface.
More information can be found at www.moonvillerailtrail.com.
To reach the Moonville Tunnel area, take OH-56 west 13 miles into Vinton County, to OH-278. Turn left on OH-278 and
go 6 miles to Wheelabout Road (Co-3). Turn left and go about 1/4 mile to the trail. Go farther on Wheelabout to Hope School
for parking, about 0.6 mile. Turn right at 0.15 mile to stay on Wheelabout Road.
North Bend Rail-Trail: The North Bend Rail-Trail is not within the scope of this guide, but it is a major facility located
close to this area, in West Virginia. This rail-trail extends 72 miles from Happy Valley, just east of Parkersburg, WV, to
Wolf Summit, just west of Clarksburg, WV. On the way, it passes by North Bend State Park, through 8 tunnels, and over 51
bridges. There are three available camping spots along the bikeway, plus two more within the state park, which also features a
lodge and cabins. There is more information at www.northbendrailtrailstatepark.com.
Bicycling
Mountain Biking
Mountain biking is permitted free at Strouds Run State Park in Athens County (page 27, see page 1 for map) and at Lake
Hope State Park in Vinton County (page 29, map on page 30). It is permitted on the BENCAD Trail system on the Marietta
District of the Wayne National Forest, though NOT on the Athens District, but requires a free trail permit.
Summary of mountain biking trail areas:
Marietta District: BENCAD Trail, 41 miles; Ohio View Trail, 7 miles (connects to BENCAD Trail); Scenic River
Trail, 3 miles (connects to BENCAD Trail); Archer's Fork Loop Trail, 9 miles (connects to BENCAD
Trail); Covered Bridge Trail, 5 miles (connects to BENCAD Trail); Lamping Homestead Trail, 5 miles
Note: The Wayne allows mountain-biking on all OHV (motorized) trails and on the Kinderhook Equestrian Trail.
We strongly discourage using bicycles on these trails. Both represent hazard to bicyclists, as well as being
unpleasant for bicyclists to use. In addition, bicyclists on woodland trails are likely to spook horses.
State Parks
Strouds Run State Park in Athens County, 24 miles (page 27, map page 1)
Lake Hope State Park in Vinton County, 22 miles (page 29, map page 30)
Hocking Hills State Park in Hocking County, 4 miles (page 31)
Other Areas
Hockhocking Adena Bikeway in Athens County, 21 miles (page 4)
Moonville Rail-Trail in Vinton County, 6 miles continuous with bridges, total of 16, but 10 m. missing bridges (p. 5)
B&O Rail-Trail in Athens County, 8 miles open so far (page 5)
AEP ReCreation Lands in Morgan County, 10 miles (page 41)
Road Bicycling
Southeast Ohio offers an abundance of back roads for road biking. A detailed map of these venues is available from Cycle
Path on West Union Street in Athens or on-line at their website.
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Hiking: An excellent resource for trail and hiking information is the Athens Trails website at: http://www.athenstrails.org
Summary of hiking trails
Wayne National Forest (page 23)
Athens District: Wildcat Hollow: 15 miles, BENCAD Trail (1444 miles total)
Ironton District: Vesuvius Lake Recreation Area: 26 miles
Marietta District:
State Parks
Strouds Run State Park (page 27): 37 miles, longest single trail: 3.2 miles
Burr Oak State Park (page 28): 28 miles, including BENCAD Trail
Lake Hope State Park (page 29): 22 miles, not including Zaleski trails
Forked Run State Park (page 29): 5 miles
Hocking Hills State Park (page 31): including BENCAD Trail
Lake Logan State Park (page 34): including BENCAD Trail)
Tar Hollow State Park (page 33):
State Forests
Shawnee State Forest (page 24): including Shawnee Backpacking Trail (40 miles), BENCAD Trail
Zaleski State Forest (page 24): including Zaleski Backpacking Trail (23.5 miles)
Tar Hollow State Forest (page 25): including BENCAD Trail
Hocking State Forest (page 25): including BENCAD Trail
Gifford State Forest (page 27)
Desonier State Nature Preserve (page 34): 2.4 miles
Boord State Nature Preserve (page 35): 0.7 mile
Conkle's Hollow State Nature Preserve (page 35):
2.6 miles, including 0.6 mile wheelchair-accessible
Rock Bridge State Nature Preserve (page 35):
Lake Katharine State Nature Preserve (page 35):
Waterloo Wildlife Research Station (page 36):
Wolf Creek Wildlife Area (page 38):
Fox Creek Wildlife Area (page 37): trail is <1 mile
State Memorials
Buckeye Furnace State Memorial (page 41)
Other areas
Lake Snowden (Hocking College) (page 40): 9.5 miles
The Ridges (Ohio University) (page 40):
Strouds Ridge Preserve (City of Athens) (page 27):
AEP ReCreation Lands (page 41): 20 miles
Featured Backpacking Trails
Wildcat Hollow Trail: This 15-mile hiking trail is entirely within the Wayne National Forest. It is located just north of Burr
Oak State Park. It is the only pedestrians-only hiking trail other than the Buckeye Trail within the Athens District of the
Wayne. This loop trail can be hiked with a 5-mile or 15-mile option. There is a pit toilet available at the trailhead, but no
water, so bring your own. There are no official campsites along this trail, but you may backpack it and camp. To camp, you
must be substantially off the trail, out of sight from the trail, and you must pack out all trash. If you build a fire, you must by
law have a ten-foot cleared area around it, and you must completely and positively extinguish it before leaving the campsite.
Check the bulletin board on entering to make sure that there are no current fire bans. There are a few campsites established
by frequent usage, but these are not officially sanctioned. Usage is supposed to be “leave no trace.”
To reach the Wildcat Hollow Trail from Athens, follow the directions to Burr Oak Lake State Park. Continue north on Ohio
State Route 13 past the dam and turn right on Burr Oak Road, County Road 107, as you would as if going to the Burr Oak
swimming beach. Go 0.9 mile on Burr Oak Road, and turn left on Beech Road (Township Road 299). At 1.5 miles, turn right
to stay on Beech Road, then at a very short distance, go straight onto Dew Road. Dew Road becomes Sunday Creek Road in
Morgan County; take Sunday Creek Road east to the trailhead. See Page 7 for map.
Buckeye Trail / North Country Trail / American Discovery Trail: This combined trail system passes through Morgan,
Athens, Perry and Hocking Counties. All three of the trails listed below are coincident in our area. In this guide, this trailway
will be referred to as the BENCAD Trail (BuckEye/North Country/American Discovery). The best-consolidated off-road
sections of the trail in our area are through the Shawnee State Forest, through Tar Hollow State Forest/State Park, Hocking
State Forest/Hocking Hills State Park, Burr Oak State Park, and AEP ReCreation Lands.
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Wildcat Hollow Hiking Trail Map
contour interval = 20 feet
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The Buckeye Trail (www.buckeyetrail.org) is a trail that wraps around the entire state of Ohio. In our
area, it is coincident with both the North Country Trail and the American Discovery Trail. Its development
began were over half a century ago, and it was originally intended to be a linear trail connecting Lake Erie
with the Ohio River. The Buckeye Trail is some 1,444 miles long with about half off-road, and the rest on
roadways. The concept of a Cincinnati-to-Cleveland trail was created in 1958, and the first section opened
in the Hocking Hills in 1959. The trail subsequently was charted to circle the entire state..
The North Country Trail (http://northcountrytrail.org) is a National Scenic Trail that extends from Lake
Champlain in upstate New York into North Dakota. It is 4,600 miles long, with over half off-road. Because
of its national scenic trail designation, it is under the authority of the National Park Service.
The American Discovery Trail (www.discoverytrail.org) claims 6,800 miles coast-to-coast. It forks in
western Ohio to form a north loop and a south loop that meet in Colorado. The eastern terminus is at Cape
Henlopen State Park on the Delaware Atlantic coast east of Lewes, Delaware. The western terminus is at
Point Reyes National Seashore on the Pacific Coast just north of San Francisco. This trail features much
less in the way of off-road hiking experiences than the previous two trails, and it has urban loops, as well.
The official website states “The ADT connects five National Scenic, 12 National Historic, and 34 National
Recreational Trails; passes through urban centers like Cincinnati and San Francisco; leads to 14 National
Parks and 16 National Forests; and visits 10,000 sites of historic, cultural, and natural significance.”
Zaleski Backpacking Trail: This trail is intended to be hiked from a dedicated parking area just off OH-278 at Lake Hope,
but can also be accessed from points on King Hollow Road, elsewhere on OH-278, and from OH-56. It features three
dedicated backpacking campsites. The configuration of the trail provides two cut-offs so that hikers may hike varying
lengths. The entire trail is 23.5 miles. There is a short loop option of 10 miles that passes by two of the campsites.
Burr Oak Backpacking Trail: This trail is 22.1 miles long, including 12.6 miles of the BENCAD Trail, with a bit over one
mile on park roads. It also shares about 4.2 miles with horse trails. There are no dedicated backpacking campsites, but there
are four public campgrounds at the lake that can be used by hikers: the main Burr Oak campground, smaller campgrounds at
Boat Docks 2 and 3, and the Wayne’s Burr Oak Cove Campground, which can be reached via the 0.8-mile Lakeview Trail.
Shawnee Backpacking Trail: This is a 40-mile backpacking trail, completely off-road, through the Shawnee State Forest,
including through the wilderness area. One side of the loop is combined with the BENCAD Trail (above). There are seven
backpacking campsites provided along the trail.
Vesuvius Backpacking Trail: This trail is 16 miles, and is located in the Lake Vesuvius Recreation Area, in the Ironton
District of the Wayne National Forest. It circles Lake Vesuvius. Camping is allowed along the trail according to National
Forest rules. The trail also passes close to several developed campgrounds.
Athens Trails Backpacking Route: Hikers can park at the Pioneer Cemetery Trailhead in Strouds Run State Park to
backpack on this trail system, using the Athens Conservancy’s backpacking campsite. Users should print out the windshield
notice at: . A suggested route is: From the Pioneer Cemetery Trailhead, take the Trace Trail/Hickory Trail a short distance to
the old brick house foundation, then turn right to stay on the Trace Trail. After another 0.3 mile, turn left onto the Finger
Rock Trail (blazed in light blue). This will take you 1.3 miles to the Athens Trail; turn right and go 0.3 mile to the White
Oak Trail. Turn left on the White Oak Trail and go 0.1 mile to the Rockhouse Trail. Turn right on the Rockhouse Trail (be
sure to visit Turtlehead Cave) and go 1.5 miles to the Athens Trail. Turn right on the Athens Trail and go 0.9 mile to the
Trace Trail. Turn left on the Trace Trail and go 0.6 mile to the Tunnel Rock Trail. Turn left on the Tunnel Rock Trail and go
0.2 mile to the campsite. To return to the car, return to the Trace Trail, and continue it 0.6 mile to the trailhead. This is only
a 5.3-mile hike in one day, but is nonetheless good backpacking training, including three substantial uphill stretches.
Backpackers can also hike around the lake, a full circuit of which is about 8 miles, including slightly more than 1 mile on
roads. See page 1 for map.
Horse Riding
Equestrians can find good opportunities in our area. Two venues on the Wayne and four state forests offer horse trails
with available camping. A private concern, Smokerise Ranch in northwestern Athens County, west of Glouster, offers many
miles of riding opportunities that connect to the Buckeye Trail and Wayne National (although these do not provide access for
horses), with camping available. Smokerise also offers lots for lease for trailers, RVs, as well as rental cabins. Another
private business, Spotted Horse Ranch, is located in western Hocking County. See the directory appendix for contact
information for these and for the Lake Hill cabins at Strouds Run. At Burr Oak State Park, the campground is quite close to
the equestrian trail head.
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Zaleski State Forest - Horse Trails
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Summary of horse trail areas:
Athens District: Stone Church Trails in Perry County: 21 miles, 10 camping sites
Marietta District: Kinderhook Trail in Washington County: 12 miles
Ironton District: Vesuvius Trails in Lawrence County: 46 miles, dispersed camping allowed
State Parks
Burr Oak State Park in Morgan County: 10 miles
Strouds Run State Park in Athens County: 14 miles with private cabins at the trail head offering horse stalling
State Forests
Zaleski State Forest in Vinton County: 50 miles, 16 camping sites
Dean State Forest in Lawrence County: 26 miles
Shawnee State Forest in Scioto County: 60 miles, 58 camping sites
Tar Hollow State Forest in Ross County: 33 miles, 46 camping sites
Hocking State Forest in Hocking County: 40 miles, 23 camping sites
Other Areas
Moonville Rail-Trail in Athens and Vinton Counties: 6 miles open so far
B&O Railroad Trail in Athens County: 8 miles open so far
Baker Easement in Athens County: 3 miles
AEP ReCreation Lands in Morgan County: 30 miles
AEP Gavin Power Plant Hunting Lands in Meigs County
There are also horse trails available at the private Smokerise Ranch in northwest Athens County.
Motorized Trails
In addition to the trails listed below, there is a trail system at Pike State Forest in Pike County (10 miles) and one at Maumee
State Forest in Henry County (5 miles). There is at least one private course in the Hocking Hills area. Users of trails must
read the rules provided by the state or the national forest service, and there is always a fee for usage. These trails are
expensive to keep up! ATV = all-terrain vehicle; APV = all-purpose vehicle.
Summary of motorized trail areas
$12/day, $24/3-day, or $45/season: you MUST have a current permit to ride these trails
http://www.waynenationalforest.com/wayneatv.htm
Athens District: Monday Creek ATV/OHM Trail System, Hocking County, 75 miles
Dorr Run Trailhead: Take US-33 west 15.5 miles from OH-550 at Athens to Company Road, T-336. Turn right
to the trailhead.
Long Run Trailhead: Take US-33 west 9.2 miles from OH-550 at Athens to OH-78. Turn right on OH-78 and go
4.8 miles to Long Run Road. Turn left on Long Run Road to the trailhead.
Ironton District: Hanging Rock ATV/OHM Trail System, Lawrence County, 24 miles
Ironton District: Pine Creek ATV/OHM Trail System, Lawrence County, 17 miles
State Forests
Richland Furnace State Forest: Vinton and Jackson Counties, 8 miles (page 27)
Perry State Forest, Perry County, 16 miles (page 26)
Picnicking
Picnic grounds are provided at all state parks listed in this guide. There are also picnic facilities at Ohio highway rest
stops: OH-32, just east of Lake Snowden in Athens County, and OH-550, just west of Barlow, in Washington County, US-50,
near Torch in eastern Athens County, and US-33, both in Meigs County and in Hocking County northwest of Logan. In
addition, there are several picnic facilities on the Wayne National Forest:
Ironton District
Lake Vesuvius Recreation Area, Timbre Run Lake
Marietta District
Lamping Homestead, Leith Run Recreation Area
Athens District
Sand Run Picnic Area (Hocking County), Utah Ridge Recreation Area (Athens County; The pond is currently drained and
the dam is being rebuilt; are closed until this is finished), Wildcat Hollow Trailhead: (Morgan County) (page 6)
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Other Areas
All state parks
Ferndale Park, Athens County
Hocking River Canal, Hocking County
Lake Snowden, Athens County
Southside Park, City of Athens
West State Street Park, City of Athens
East State Street Park, City of Athens
Hocking Canal Rest Area, in Hocking County between Nelsonville and Haydenville
AEP ReCreation Land
Many other community parks
Hocking Hills State Forest
Horse Trails
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Geocaching and Orienteering
Geocaching and orienteering are related activities that have a lot of participants. Orienteering is the art of traveling crosscountry, the wilder the terrain the better, using only compass bearings and sightings on landmarks. Geocaching is the
discovery of caches of trinkets based on using GPS coordinates or compass courses. Sometimes it’s referred to as a “treasure
hunt.” When a participant finds the geocache, he or she is expected to take an item and to also leave an item. There are then
on-line logs to record your experience. Both of these are great tools for teaching children about the outdoors and selfreliance. Geocaching at the Wayne National Forest requires special permission. Check with your local district to find out if
there are any active geocaching programs in your district. There is an active geocaching program in the Strouds Run area.
For two geocaching trails created in conjunction with the local Visitors’ Bureau, good for beginners:
http://www.athensohio.com/whattodo/geocaching
For general geocaching; select Athens from the menu:
http://www.geocaching.com/local/default.aspx?state_id=36
In orienteering, no advance preparation is required other than using a topographical map, ideally oriented to true north (as
virtually as such maps are). The participant determines a goal/endpoint, and a starting point, then determines the compass
bearing from start to end. The course may also be a series of bearings, with waypoints along the way. Then a compass and a
sturdy pair of hiking boots are all that are required.
Camping
Both public and private campgrounds are available. Primitive walk-in camping is allowed anywhere on National Forest
land with a few restrictions. Such camping is expected to be “leave no trace” camping, and campfires may be restricted by
state law during high fire-risk seasons.
Wayne National Forest – Athens Unit
Burr Oak Cove Campground: 11 RV-capable non-electric sites, + 8 walk-in only; 1 site is “barrier-free”
Wayne National Forest – Marietta Unit
Covered Bridge Scenic Byway Campgrounds
Lane Farm Campground: 4 primitive
Hune Bridge Campground: 3 primitive
Haught Run Campground: 4 primitive
Ring Mill Campground: 3 primitive
Lamping Homestead Campsite: 6 primitive walk-in
Leith Run Recreation Area: 18 electric, 3 primitive walk-in
Wayne National Forest – Ironton Unit
Vesuvius Lake Recreation Area
Iron Ridge Campground: 21 electric sites, 20 non-electric; 3 sites are fully accessible
Oak Hill Campground: 24 electric sites; 3 sites are fully accessible
Pine Knob campground: 8 non-electric sites
Two Points Group Campground: up to 100 people
State Parks
Burr Oak State Park: 17 electric, 99 non-electric campsites in three locations, camper cabin, plus 2 group camps
Forked Run State Park: 81 electric, 64 non-electric, 3 camper cabins
Hocking Hills State Park: 80 electric, 92 non-electric, plus 40 cabins, plus several group camp
Jackson Lake State Park: 34 electric sites
Lake Alma State Park: 71 electric, 10 non electric, one cabin
Lake Hope State Park: 187 campsites, including 46 electric, plus 66 cabins
Shawnee State Park: 107 electric campsites, plus 25 cabins
Strouds Run State Park: 78 campsites, all non-electric, including 2 camper cabins, plus group camp
Tar Hollow State Park: 17 electric, 91 non-electric campsites, including 17 electric, plus 30 cabins
Other
Lake Snowden (Hocking College): 125 sites
Backpacking Campsites
Blair Preserve: 1 site (small group capacity, up to about 8)
Shawnee State Forest: 7 sites
Tar Hollow State Park: 8 sites in one area (actually embedded within the state forest)
Wildcat Hollow Trail: no sites per se, but camping is allowed according to National Forest rules
Zaleski State Forest: 3 sites
AEP ReCreation Lands: 2 campgrounds on the BENCAD Trail
12
Horse Camps
Hocking State Forest: 23 sites
Shawnee State Forest: 58 sites
Stone Church Horse Trail: 10 sites
Tar Hollow State Forest: 46 sites
Zaleski State Forest: 16 sites
AEP ReCreation Lands: 1 camp area
AEP Gavin Plant Hunting Lands: 8 sites
See the listings of businesses at the end of this guide for private campgrounds.
Hunting
Southeast Ohio is a prime area for hunters, especially deer. The deer population is extensive and current limits are fairly
liberal. In the 2011-2012 gun season, the limits were eight deer, seven of them antlerless. If you have a large freezer, deer
hunting can be an excellent source of food. The bag limits permit only one antlered deer because most hunters are only trophy
hunters, while control of the doe population is more essential to controlling the overall deer population. Deer overpopulation
is causing ecological changes that are a problem. In several place, deer EXclosures have been built to protect small areas of
sensitive vegetation. These can be seen, for instance, at Lake Katharine and Riddle State Nature Preserves.
Specific hunting information and publications are available at the state Division of Wildlife office in Athens, at 360 East
State Street. This is on the north side of East State.
There is a special wild turkey management area shared between Zaleski State Forest and Waterloo Wildlife Research
Station. There are generally good wild turkey populations in the area.
The area has a large amount of public land available for hunting, and most of the state parks in the area allow hunting in
at least part of their lands:
*Strouds Run State Park (Athens County; see page 27, map on page 1): The whole park except for safety areas, plus
much of the adjacent city preserve land and the Blair Preserve.
*Burr Oak State Park (Athens-Morgan-Perry Counties; see page 28, map page 2): More than half the park (see map),
plus large areas of adjacent Wayne National Forest.
*Forked Run State Park (Meigs County; see page 29, map page 31): The whole park except for safety areas, plus the
adjacent Shade River State Forest.
Neither Hocking Hills State Park, Lake Hope State Park nor Tar Hollow State Park allow hunting, but their adjacent state
forests do. Hunting is also prohibited at Lake Logan and Lake Alma. Hunting of any kind is not allowed in any of the state's
nature preserves, but is allowed in all state forests (pages 24) and wildlife areas (pages 36).
AEP lands
Free permits are required to enter AEP lands. For a permit, go to:
www.aep.com/environmental/recreation/recland/permit.aspx
or call 1-800-WILDLIFE (800.945.3543)
From the AEP website:
Hunters need only an Ohio Hunting License and their ReCreation Land Visitor's Permit.
Hunting is not permitted within 300 feet from the boundaries of the campground areas.
Hunting is not permitted in the active mining areas, on property which has been leased to others by AEP, or on other
AEP property outside the boundaries of ReCreation Land.
Groundhog hunting is prohibited.
Target shooting or practice is prohibited within all AEP ReCreation Areas.
Beaver trapping on AEP lands is controlled and requires a special Beaver Trapping Permit. For additional
information concerning beaver trapping, please send your name, address and telephone number to
American Electric Power, ReCreation Department, 59 West Main Street, McConnelsville, OH 43756
ReCreation land in Morgan County: about 60,000 acres in Morgan, Muskingum and Noble Counties. See page 41.
Poston Plant Public Hunting Area: 2300 acres in Athens County, in three tracts: between Poston Station Road and the
Hockhocking Adena Bikeway west of The Plains in Athens and Waterloo Townships, on the south side of Poston Station
Road in those townships, and in Waterloo Township bordered by Perry Ridge Road on the north, Hamley Shortcut on the
south, and Grass Run Road on the west. Hamley Run Road passes through the area.
Gavin Public Hunting Lands: 6,885 acres in Meigs and Gallia Counties, west of Rutland in Meigs County and west of
Cheshire in Gallia County. State Routes 124 and 325 go through it; Route 554 borders it. See Page 42 for more information.
13
Buckeye Furnace Mining Lands Public Hunting Lands: 1,034 acres. Open to most day uses. No permit needed. Camping
is prohibited. This area extensively borders the Broken Aro and Flint Run Wildlife Areas. The Buckeye Furnace area is
accessible from a parking area on Township Road 176, off Ohio State Route 124. To reach this area from Athens, go west on
the Appalachian Highway, Ohio State Route 32, to Jackson County Road 38 (Hiram West Road). Turn left and go to Ohio
State Route 124. Turn left on 124 and go 3/4 mile to Township Road 176 (Salem Road). Turn right on Township 176 and go
to the parking lot, on your left. If you miss the turn from 32, you can continue to Ohio State Route 327 and turn left. Go to
124 and turn left. Go just over ½ mile to the parking area on the right, across from Frank Smith Road, T-749.
Sunday Creek Coal Company: Sunday Creek Coal allows hunting on their land with permission. Most of the land at this
point has been purchased by the Ohio Division of Wildlife as part of the Wallace H. O’Dowd Wildlife Area, but there still is
an extensive area in Hocking County not yet acquired. To hunt on Sunday Creek land, contact either:
Division of Wildlife
360 East State Street
Athens, OH 45701
or
Sunday Creek Coal Company
68 West Columbus Street
Nelsonville, OH 45764
Water Recreation
Canoeing and Kayaking
Canoeing and kayaking are popular on all area lakes. There are several local guide businesses that provide outfitting and
guiding for these activities, both on the Hocking River and on lakes in the area. In addition, canoes and kayaks can be rented
at most state parks with lakes. In addition to the water trails listed below (Muskingum River, Little Muskingum River,
Hocking River, Raccoon Creek, Salt Creek, Symmes Creek), the following streams may be useable for canoeing:
Little Hocking River: Washington County
Federal Creek: Athens County
Sunday Creek: Athens County
Margaret Creek: Athens County
Shade River: Meigs and Athens Counties
Most of the information in the lists below is taken from the state ODNR websites, and is not field-checked. There are
some additional notes on the Hocking River Water Trail. For some water trails, the GPS coordinates are listed.
Water Trails
The terms “river left” and “river right” refer to the banks of the river, with orientation as you face downstream. These are
the same as “left bank” and “right bank.” This is a long-standing river navigation convention.
Muskingum River Water Trail
http://ohiodnr.com/Portals/4/pdfs/access/muskingumrwt.pdf
This water trail is administered by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Guides and maps to the trail are available
at the website.
This is a well-developed water trail, 108 miles long. All access points listed in the official water trail guide are listed here.
Numbers go from upriver to downriver. Most of the lock & dam sites allow camping, but only for river travelers. The
Muskingum River and the water trail begin at the confluence of the Tuscarawas and Walhonding River in Coshocton County.
The Muskingum River confluence with the Ohio River is at Ohio River Mile 173.2. The interval between numbers 22 and 23
is especially wild (the riverside, not the river). Old bridge debris is present in the river between sites 9 and 10.
Coshocton County
1. Baird Concrete Access: mile 0.0, river left, in north Coshocton City
2. Coshocton City Access: mile 2.5, river left, in south Coshocton City
Muskingum County
3. Dresden Ramp: mile 20.5, river right, in Dresden Village
4. Ellis Lock & Dam #11: mile 27.0, river right, camping; very close to Tri-Valley Wildlife Area
5. Kirkbride Boating Company: mile 32.8, river right, private, in east Zanesville City
6. Riverside Park: mile 33.6, river left, in east Zanesville City
7. Zane’s Landing Park: mile 35.1, river left, in south Zanesville City
8. Zanesville Lock & Dam #10: mile 35.2, river left, in south Zanesville City, adjacent to Zane’s Landing Park
9. Putnam Landing: mile 36.1, river right, in South Zanesville
10. Philo Lock & Dam #9: mile 36.9, river right, in Philo Village
11. Muskingum Valley Park District Access: mile 37.5, river left; across the river from Philo Village, close to Blue
Rock State Forest
12. Green Acres Campground: mile 41.7, river left, private campground
13. Muskingum River Campgrounds: mile 44.2, river left, private campground
14
Morgan County
14. Rokeby Lock & Dam #8: mile 48.0, river left, camping
15. Malta Ramp: mile 55.1, river right, in Malta Village
16. McConnelsville Wharf Park: mile 55.4, river left, in McConnelsville
17. McConnelsville Lock & Dam #7: mile 56.3, river left, in south McConnelsville, camping
18. McConnelsville Ramp: mile 56.7, river left
19. River’s Edge Campground: mile 59.4, river right, private campground
20. Stockport Lock & Dam #6: mile 65.3, river left, across the river from Stockport Village, camping
21. Big Bottom State Memorial: mile 65.6, river left
22. Luke Chute Lock & Dam #5: mile 71.3, river right, camping
Washington County
23. Beverly Lock & Dam #4: mile 80.7, river left, in Beverly Village, camping
24. Lowell Lock & Dam #3: mile 90.8, river left, in Lowell Village, camping
25. Devola Lock & Dam #2: mile 99.5, mile 103.0, river left, just above Devola Village, camping; portage required
26. Indian Acres Ramp: mile 106.5, river left, in Marietta City
27. Marietta Harbor: mile 108.3, river left, in Marietta City
Raccoon Creek Water Trail: 109.0 miles
www.raccooncreek.org/watertrailhome.aspx
Vinton County
1. Vinton Co. Rd. 1 bridge in Zaleski State Forest off S.R. 328 north of Zaleski, roadside access river right and left;
parking roadside. 39.358, -82.385
2. S.R. 278 bridge in Zaleski, roadside access river right; parking lot and roadside.
39.281, -82.391
3. Robinett Ridge Rd. (Twp. Rd 1) Bridge south of Moonville Tunnel, access river left; parking roadside. 39.303, -82.326
4. Turner Ridge Rd. (Twp. Rd. 20K), access river right; parking roadside. 39.270, -82.297
5. Knox Twp. Road 14-K off S.R. 356 south of Mineral, roadside access river left; parking lot and roadside.
39.255, -82.303
6. S.R. 50 bridge east of Prattsville, roadside access river left; parking roadside. 39.231, -82.286
7. Vales Mill Bridge (Co. Rd. 43C), access river left or right; parking roadside. 39.178, -82.315
8. Eakin Mill Rd. (Co. Rd. 38A) covered bridge in Arbaugh, access river right under bridge; parking roadside.
39.171, -82.337
9. Clarion Rd. (Co. Rd. 28) bridge, access river left; parking roadside. 39.130, -82.359
10. Vinton Co. Rd. 9-W bridge off S.R. 124 west of Wilkesville, roadside access river left or right on Vinton Co. Rd. 10;
parking roadside. 39.110, -82.385
11. Minerton Rd. (Co. Rd. 26), access river right; parking roadside. 39.080, -82.396
12. Covered Bridge Rd. (Twp. Rd. 4) Humpback Bridge, access river left or right *Rock dam located approx. 60 yards
downstream of bridge; parking roadside.
9.048, -82.377
Gallia County
13. State Route 160 bridge at intersection with Alice Rd. north of Ewington, access river right; parking roadside.
39.014, -82.352
14. DAM--upstream of the S.R. 160 bridge in Vinton, portage river left. 38.978, -82.340
15. Vinton Community Park off S.R. 325/S.R. 160 bridge in Vinton, access river left above bridge; parking lot, picnic
area, drinking water, food. 38.978, -82.339
16. Bob Evans Farm Canoe Livery off S.R. 35 bridge in Rio Grande, access river right with permission; camping, ramp,
picnic area, drinking water, food. 38.892, -82.359
17. FALLS--Cora Falls in Cora off Rodney-Cora Rd., Class 2, portage river left with permission or paddle through.
38.825, -82.369
18. Maple Grove Rd. and S.R. 141 bridge, roadside access river; parking roadside. 38.806, -82.372
19. Raccoon Creek Co. Park south of S.R. 141 bridge north of Gallipolis, access river right camp; parking lot, camping,
ramp, restroom, picnic area, drinking water. 38.791, -82.347
20. DAM--Northup dam below Lincoln Pike bridge in Northup, portage river right or left with permission.
38.784, -82.283
21. S.R. 218 bridge north of Thivener; parking roadside. 38.737, -82.245
22. S.R. 7 bridge south of Gallipolis, access river left; parking roadside. 38.721, -82.196
15
Hocking River Water Trail: 94.9 miles
www.hockingriver.org
Fairfield County
1. Miller Park in Lancaster off S.R. 33 and Sixth Avenue, access river left; parking roadside. 39.720, -82.610
2. Sensei Lake/Mahler Park in Lancaster off S.R. 793, access river right and left; parking lot, restroom, picnic area,
drinking water. 39.706, -82.603
3. Horns Mill Rd. bridge at Horns Mill off S.R. 33, roadside access river right and left; parking roadside. 39.652, -82.558
Hocking County
4. Rockbridge Road bridge in Rockbridge, roadside access river left; parking roadside. 39.584, -82.519
5. Hocking Valley Canoe Livery, Chieftain Drive northwest of Logan, access river left with permission; parking roadside,
rentals, ramp, restroom, picnic area, drinking water. 39.548, -82.439
6. S.R. 664 bridge, access river right; parking, ramp, picnic area. 39.542, -82.431
7. FALLS--Natural falls under the S.R. 664 bridge in Logan, portage river right or paddle best path. 39.542, -82.431
8. Kackelmacher Park in Logan off S.R. 93 downstream of bridge, access river right; parking, ramp, restroom, picnic
area, drinking water. 39.534, -82.407
9. State Route 328 Bridge, access river right; parking roadside. 39.521, -82.378
10. Wandling Rd. Bridge in Haydenville, access river right; parking roadside. 39.474, -82.330
11. Laurel Run Rd. Bridge, access river right; parking roadside. 39.459, -82.313
Athens County
12. Lake Hope Drive (S.R. 278) Bridge in Nelsonville, access river right; parking, picnic area. 39.459, -82.240
13. Fulton Street Bridge in Nelsonville, access river left; parking, ramp, restroom, picnic area. 39.458, -82.234
14. Nelsonville City Park on Watkins Street off of U.S. Route 33, access river left; parking, camping, restroom, picnic
area, drinking water. 39.451, -82.229
15. S.R. 691 bridge/S.R. 33 southeast of Nelsonville, access river right; parking lot. 39.340, -82.210
16. DAM--on right side of island about 5-6 miles south of S.R. 691 in Nelsonville. River only flows over dam at high
water. Take river left channel to avoid dam. 39.387, -82.150
17. Hamley Run Access Point, on Hamley Run Road, off River Road, which is off OH-682 just southeast of the Ohio
River; parking area, ramp. Note: This is a high vandalism area. Use for pickup/dropoff only.
18. State Route 682 bridge, access river right; parking roadside. 39.389, -82.140
19. DAM--Old Canal Dam, Large timbers, Iron spikes, Rocks, portage river left. 39.338, -82.121
20. West State St Park in Athens, access river left; parking lot, ramp, restroom, picnic area, drinkg water. 39.333, -82.126
21. DAM--White's Mill Dam (broken) in Athens below the S.R. 56 bridge, portage river left. There is no ramp below the
dam, but a fairly steep bank. Portage along the bike path. 39.330, -82.126
22. Baker Tract, South Canaan Road Bridge (County Road 24A, just off US-50), access river left; parking roadside (on
east side of road), dirt ramp. 39.328, -82.005
23. Savannah Community Park by intersection of State Route 329 and Church Street, access river left; parking lot,
restroom, picnic area. 39.289, -81.924
24. Beebe Road Access just downstream of Federal Creek, access river left; parking roadside. 39.320, -81.879
25. Frost Road Bridge near intersection with State Route 144, access river left; parking roadside (on north side of bridge).
39.276, -81.831
26. Army Corps of Engineers Belleville Locks & Dam River Access Area; Athens County Road 58 (Frost Road) off US-50
(OH-7, OH-32) at Coolville, access river left; parking, ramp, picnic area. 39.229, -81.795
27. River's Bend Park off OH-144 north of Hockingport, access river left with permission; parking, camping, restroom,
picnic area, drinking water. 39.202, -81.773
28. Russ's RV Park and Ramp at confluence with Ohio River, access river left; parking, drinking water. 39.184, -81.754
Little Muskingum River: 69.7 miles
Monroe County
1. Jerico Road and Co. Rd. 68 north of Rinard Mills, roadside access river right
2. Ring Mill Canoe Access at Poulton off S.R. 26 (Wayne National Forest), access river left
3. Knowleton Covered Bridge Park north of Rinard Mills off S.R. 26 (Wayne National Forest), access river left (camping)
4. S.R. 26 and Monroe Co. Rd. 88 at the Rinard Mills bridge, roadside access river left
Washington County
5. Washington Co. Ludlow Twp. Rd. 136 bridge and S.R. 26 east of Bloomfield, roadside access river right
6. S.R. 26 and Co. Rd. 260 in Bloomfield, access river right and left for canoe but not for parking
7. Rinard Covered Bridge at S.R. 26 and Ludlow Twp. Rd. 406 east of Wingett Run, pulloff access river right
8. Little Muskingum Canoe Livery off of S.R. 26 in Wingett Run, roadside access river right
10. Hune Covered Bridge (Wayne National Forest) at Washington Co. Rd. 26 and Lawrence Twp. Rd. 34 bridge south
of Lawrence, pulloff access river left (camping)
16
11. Lawrence Twp. Rd. 413 bridge and Washington Co. Rd. 26 east of Dart, roadside access river right
12. Hills Covered Bridge (Washington Co. Rd. 333) south of Hills and east of Marietta, roadside access river right
13. Washington Co. Rd. 9 and Washington Co. Rd. 333 east of Marietta and south of Dell, roadside access river left
Salt Creek: 45.4 miles
Hocking County
1. Co. Rd. 174 bridge southeast of Laurelville, roadside access river right; roadside parking. 39.464, -82.735
2. S.R. 56 bridge in Haynes, roadside access river left; roadside parking. 39.433, -82.677
3. S.R. 56 bridge southeast of Haynes river right pulloff access. 39.433, -82.677
Vinton County
4. Pretty Run Rd (Vinton Co 17) bridge in Eagle Mills, roadside access river right & left; roadside parkg. 39.331, -82.683
Ross County
5. Dixon Mill Road east of Londonderry, roadside access river left; roadside parking. 39.269, -82.766
6. S.R. 50 bridge east of Londonderry with parking about 1/4 mile northwest of the bridge at a roadside rest stop, access
river right; roadside parking, roadside restroom, picnic area, drinking water. 39.256, -82.771
7. West Junction Road bridge southwest of Vigo, roadside access river right; roadside parking. 39.231, -82.779
8. DAM--broken dam upstream of the Main Street bridge in Richmond Dale. Almost washed out. Portage river right or
left with permission. 39.200, -82.811
9. S.R. 35 bridge in Richmond Dale with parking at bridge or about 1/8 mile northwest of the bridge at a roadside rest
stop, access river right; roadside parking, roadside restroom, picnic area, drinking water. 39.197, -82.813
Symmes Creek: 70.0 miles
There is no publicly accessible drinking water or food along this waterway. There are no public restrooms, canoe/kayak
rentals, or camping areas.
Gallia County
1. Gallia Rd. east of Gallia, roadside access river right; parking lot roadside. 38.841, -82.495
2. Symmes Creek Rd. and Woodside Rd. north of Cadmus, roadside access river left; parkg lot roadside. 38.804, -82.440
Lawrence County
3. Arabia Canoe Launch at S.R. 141 bridge in Arabia, roadside access river left; parking lot roadside.
38.664, -82.473
4. S.R. 217 bridge east of Linville in Willow Wood, access river left; parking lot roadside. 38.557, -82.469
5. Public boat ramp off Symmes Creek Rd. in Chesapeake north of the confluence of Symmes Creek with the Ohio
River, access river left; parking lot, picnic area, ramp. 38.430, -82.451
Boating
From the ODNR website:
Ohio law states that any watercraft operating within 300 feet of a marina, gas dock or launching area must travel at
no wake or "idle speed." Boat operators are responsible for any damage that their wake may cause. Stay in the main
channel of the river when operating at greater than idle speed. Most of the creek and backwater areas leading to the Ohio River are also
zoned as no wake. (Check with your local enforcement agency.)
Also, be aware that most of the river is actually owned by West Virginia or Kentucky. Ohio owns the Ohio River ONLY
beyond the low-water mark of 1790 on the Ohio side. So West Virginia and Kentucky state laws very much apply on most of
the Ohio River adjacent to those states!
River boat ramps
This guide includes Ohio River facilities from Ohio River Mile 161 to ORM 230 (corresponding roughly to Army Corps
of Engineers navigation maps 162-180).
Belleville Lake
“Belleville Lake” refers to the Ohio river impoundment upstream from the Belleville Locks and Dam, which is just
upriver from Forked Run State Park in Meigs County. The normal level of this lake is 582 feet above sea level.
1. Williamstown, West Virginia Public Launching Ramp. River Mile 172.0.
This site features a picnic area as well as the boat ramp. It is directly across from the City of Marietta, Ohio, barely
upstream from the Muskingum River confluence with the Ohio River. To reach this ramp from Athens by car, take
US-50, which is also Ohio State Route 32, east. Ohio State Route 7 will join with this just before Coolville. Keep
following the signs for OH-7, through Marietta, to the Ohio River Bridge. Take this bridge over the river, then
immediately turn right after the bridge onto Front Street in Williamstown. Go one block on Front Street and turn
right into the small park. This site may be closed during winter or during high water.
17
2. Muskingum River. River Mile 173.2.
Several boat ramps are on the Muskingum River, including one a short distance upriver from the confluence with the
Ohio River. See the Muskingum River boat ramp list, below.
2. J. Cochran Boat Ramp: Riverview, West Virginia. River Mile 183.6.
This boat ramp is in a side channel of the Ohio River, behind Neal Island. It is next to the Vienna Marina.
3. Point Park Public Launching Ramp & Ferry Landing: Parkersburg, West Virginia. River Mile 184.5.
This is a boat ramp only. It is at the confluence of the Little Kanawha River with the Ohio River. However, as of this
writing, it is being rebuilt and is not open.
4. Blennerhassett Island Launching Ramp. River Mile 186.0.
5. City of Belpre Public Launching Ramp. River Mile 186.2.
To reach this ramp from Athens, go east on US-50, which is also OH-32. Follow the signs for OH-32. At Belpre, you
will come down to a stop sign. Turn right at the stop in onto Main Street to stay on OH-32. Go 0.9 mile to the
stoplight at the foot of the bridge, which is Washington Boulevard. Go 1.4 miles on Washington Boulevard to
George Street and turn left. Go about one long block to the park entrance, which will be on the right. After the turn,
it’s 0.2 mile to the ramp itself. The ramp is in the Belpre River Access Park.
7. WVDNR Public Launching Ramp. River Mile 192.4.
8. Athens Boat, Ski Club and Launching Ramp. River Mile 199.1.
9. Eddie’s Marina and Boat Launching Ramp: River Mile 199.2.
18 Pearl Street, Hockingport, Ohio 45739; Ph: 740-667-3691
10. ACE Belleville Locks and Dam site at Coolville. Ohio River Mile 199.3.
Although this boat ramp is on the Hocking River, which mostly does not support recreational boating other than
canoeing or kayaking, the ramp is within the Ohio River pool created by the Belleville Locks and Dam and is 5.9
miles from the Ohio River. The confluence of the Hocking River with the Ohio River is at Ohio River Mile 199.3.
This site features the boat ramp, parking, and picnic tables and grills. To reach this boat ramp from Athens, take US50 east to Coolville. After passing the junction for OH-144, go over the Hocking River bridge and take the first left
on Frost Road, just past the bridge. Turn into the first driveway to the left; the ramp area borders US-50.
11. River’s Bend Marina Hocking River. Launching Ramp. River Mile 199.3.
On the Hocking River, 1.0 mile from the Ohio River.
Racine Lake
“Racine Lake” refers to the Ohio River impoundment upstream from the Racine Locks and Dam, which is close to Letart,
West Virginia. The normal level of this lake is 560 feet above sea level.
1. ODNR Public Launching Ramp. River Mile 207.9.
This ramp is across Ohio State Route 144 from Forked Run State Park, and is just downstream from the confluence
of Forked Run with the Ohio River.
2. City of Ravenswood (West Virginia) Public Launching Ramp. River Mile 221.1.
Muskingum River
The Muskingum River is navigable for at least 108 miles upstream from the Ohio River for small craft. See the
Muskingum River Water Trail for more information.
Public Lakes with Boat Ramps
1. Burr Oak Lake: 664 acres, elev. 721 feet, 30' deep, 4 ramps, no-wake rule, Burr Oak State Park, page 28, map page 2
2. Lake Logan: 400 acres, elev. 759 feet, 19' deep, 2 ramps, 10 horsepower limit, Lake Logan State Park, page 34
3. Lake Rupert, 325 acres, elev. 708 feet, 24' deep, 1 ramp, 10 horsepower limit, Wellston State Wildlife Area, page 38
3. Jackson Lake, 242 acres, elev. 700 feet, 12' deep, 1 ramp, electric motors only, Jackson Lake State Park, page 34
4. Hammertown Reservoir, 190 acres, 52' deep, 3 ramps, electric motors only, Jackson, Ohio, page 19
5. Tycoon Lake, 183 acres, elev. 616 feet, 19' deep, 1 ramp, electric motors only, Tycoon Lake State Wildlife Area, p. 38
6. Dow Lake: 160 acres, elev. 660 feet, 33' deep, 1 ramp, no-wake rule, Strouds Run State Park, page 27, map page 1
7. Veto Lake, 160 acres, elev. 643 feet, 16' deep, 1 ramp, 10 horsepower limit, Veto Lake State Wildlife Area, page 37
8. Lake Vesuvius: 143 acres, elev. 636 feet, 1 ramp, Wayne National Forest, Ironton District, page 21
9. Lake Snowden: 136 acres, elev. 739 feet, 37' deep, 1 ramp, no-wake rule, owned by Hocking College, page 40
10. Lake Hope: 120 acres, elev. 715 feet, 23' deep, 1 ramp, electric motors only, Lake Hope State Park, p. 29, map p. 30
11. Forked Run Lake: 120 acres, elev. 600 feet, 26' deep, 2 ramps, 10 horsepwr limit, Forked Run St. Pk, p. 29, map p. 31
12. Timbre Ridge Lake: 97 acres, elev. 752 feet, 37' deep, 1 ramp, electric motors only, Wayne National Forest,
Ironton District, page 24
13. Lake Alma: 60 acres, est. 12' deep, 1 ramp, electric motors only, Lake Alma State Park, page 34
14. Fox Lake: 48 acres, elev. 694 feet, 21' deep, 1 ramp, electric motors only, Fox Lake State Wildlife Area, page 37
16. Pine Lake: 15 acres, 1 ramp, electric motors only, Tar Hollow State Park, page 33
18
Fishing
Southeast Ohio offers three distinctly different types of fishing: pond fishing, lake fishing, and river fishing. There are
many hundreds of ponds in the area, mostly on private land, and many of them stocked. However, most of them are not
accessible to the public. There are, however, many lakes (see above list). The state often provides one or two free fishing days
in May, when Ohio residents can fish without a license. Otherwise, licenses are required.
River Fishing
Good river fishing can be had anywhere in the Ohio River bordering Ohio, or, in our area, also in the lower Muskingum
River and the lowermost Hocking River, where it is in the Belleville Pool of the Ohio River. A number of boat ramps are
available. All the public boat ramps also allow riverbank fishing. In addition, there are riverbank access areas.
Swimming
All the state parks with lakes, listed in the above boat ramp list, have swimming beaches. Lake Snowden in southwestern
Athens County also has a swimming beach. Public swimming pools are to be found in East State Street Park in Athens, on
Washington Street downtown in Nelsonville, and in McConnelsville.
Skateboarding
Skateboarders, welcome! We’ve got venues for you! There are three main facilities:
1. Skatopia in Meigs County: This is a private concern, and generally these are listed at the end of this work, but this is an
exception. This is the pre-eminent skateboard park in the area.
Skatopia
740.742.3169 http://www.skatopia.org/
34961 Hutton Rd Rutland, OH 45775
Directions: Take OH-32 west 8.0 miles from US-33 at Athens to the OH-681 exit at Albany. At the end of the exit ramp,
turn right (south) on OH-681. Take it 5.3 miles to OH-692. Turn right on OH-692 and take it 1.0 mile to OH684, on the far side of Harrisonville. Turn left on OH-684 and take it 2.9 miles to OH-143. Continue straight
across OH-143 onto New Lima Road, County Road 3. Take New Lima 3 1/4 miles to the second Loop Road
intersection. Turn right on Loop Road, County Road 60, and go ½ mile to McCumber Road, County Road 4.
Turn left on McCumber Road and take it 0.6 mile to Hutton Road. Turn left on Hutton Road to Skatopia.
2. Skate park at East State Street Park, Athens County
To reach this skate park, take State Street east from US-33 in Athens. Turn right at the third stoplight east of US-33
into the parking area. The skate park is behind the community center.
3. Skate park facility at the Glouster Village Park in Trimble Township, Athens County
To reach this skate park, take OH-13 north from OH-550/US-33 through the Village of Trimble. Turn left into the
park entrance which is shortly past the power transformer station on your right.
Cross-Country Skiing
If you’re a die-hard downhill skier, you’re out of luck in southeast Ohio. If you’re a cross-country skier, however, you can
be in hog heaven, given a good winter.
The best overall route is probably the Rockhouse Trail starting from Sells Park. This trail was built with an intention of
accommodating skiers and is generally of gentle grade with a treadway wide enough for easy skiing. Admittedly, it is work
getting up from Sells Park to the trail. You may want to carry your skis uphill from the pond to the trail itself (an accessible
segment was never finished). This trail will allow you to go 2.7 miles to Turtlehead Cave. The nearby Athens Trail, when
on the ridgetop, is also a good route, but it’s a hard climb getting to it. Again, you may want to carry your skis up to the top
before putting them on, but the ridgetop trail is mostly ideal for skiing. In fact, if you take the Rockhouse Trail to the cave,
you can then go uphill on the White Oak Trail (again, carrying your skis) to the Athens Trail, and ski back to Sells Park.
In Strouds Run State Park, you can also try the Lakeview Trail from the swimming beach area to the dam, or the Hickory
Trail, from the Pioneer Cemetery Trailhead on Strouds Run Road to the dam. Both are mostly skiable, although both have
short, steep uphill stretches and a few gully crossings that are challenges.
The Trace Trail, from the Pioneer Cemetery Trailhead, is also eminently skiable for about a half-mile from the trailhead.
Beyond that, it gets a bit challenging.
The Adena Hockhocking Bikeway is paved, but with sufficient snow, it’s a cross-country addict’s dream. On an old
railroad grade, you can go as fast and as smooth as you can. In fact, you can go some twenty miles and back!
Then there’s the Moonville Rail-Trail. As yet, this is only skiable in segments. Because of the old aggregate base, having
been another old railroad, this requires a good snow base, but it’s an easy ski up to the point of missing bridges, and it’s as
beautiful a trip as you will find in our area. Of course, if you come to either of the tunnels, you’ll have to walk through
because of the lack of snow, but those are relatively short stretches.
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Climbing and Rappeling
This subject covers severally distinct types of activities, and four of them are available in our area: climbing walls; rock
climbing, either free-climbing or assisted climbing; bouldering, and rappeling.
The best rock-climbing and rappeling venues in southeast Ohio are in the Hocking Hills. There is a 90-acre area set aside
within the Hocking State Forest for these types of activities. There are also several popular areas around Athens for
bouldering problems.
Climbing walls can be found at Ping Center of Ohio University, and at Hocking College. These are open to students, and
may be open to non-students for a fee.
The best reference website is:
http://www.athensbouldering.blogspot.com
There is also:
http://www.rockclimbing.com/routes/North_America/United_States/Ohio/Southeast_Ohio
This website lists the Solution Rock Gym on State Street as a resource, but that facility is out of business.
East State Street Sites
To get to these sites, go east on East State Street from Athens. At the stoplight for Wal*Mart, turn left, by Friendly Paws
pet supply, and go to the end of the small road, at the metal-sided barn, called the Dance Barn. There is parking there. This is
private property, and access is by permission. If there is an event at the Dance Barn, then please be considerate and find
another place to park. This access is allowed by the owner of Mac’s Thrifty Store, which is located at the turn off East State
Street, and sells clothing suitable for the outdoor enthusiast.
Boulder Cove and Crumley Ridge
Called "Trailer Park" by the longtime rock climbers in the area. This is one of the most popular bouldering sites in the
area. It lies within the boundaries of Strouds Run State Park. From the trailhead at the Dance Barn, take the Cucumbertree
Trail all the way back to the Rockhouse Trail at the long bridge over the creek. Turn right on the Rockhouse Trail and follow
it up the hill, past the sign that says “Strouds Run Park.” When you reach the second small footbridge (the one with
handrails), you are at Boulder Cove. The ridge beyond this, along the Rockhouse Trail, is Crumley Ridge.
Named sites at Boulder Cove/Crumley Ridge:
Commitment Boulder (13 problems)
The Font Area (7 problems)
Hammer territory (2 problems)
The Mall Boulders (2 problems)
Rockhouse (1 problem)
The Ravine Boulders (2 problems)
Silhouetted Cave (1 problem)
Trailside Boulder (2 problems)
Copperhead Point
This area, called “COAD” by climbers, is on City of Athens preserve land. From the trailhead at the Dance Barn, take the
Cucumbertree Trail all the way back to the Rockhouse Trail at the long bridge over the creek. Turn left on the Rockhouse
Trail, cross the bridge, and follow the trail out to the point of the ridge, where the trail leaves the old roadway and continues a
short distance to the climbing area.
Named sites at Copperhead Point:
Bridle Trail Rocks
Emerald Boulder (4 problems)
Gravestone (5 problems)
Lower COAD (7 problems)
COAD Boulders
Upper COAD (1 problem)
Other Strouds Run Area Sites
There is also the Dam Boulders, near Dow Lake Dam (off US-50 east of Athens), and the Death Arete Area (east of State
Park Road, across from the campground).
Witches Hill
Also called Witches Rock, this area is on top of a hill overlooking the highway on the east side of Athens, Ohio, where
US-33, US-50, and OH-32 are combined. It is on ODOT highway right-of-way. To reach this site, go east on Stimson Avenue
from Athens. Just after the Hocking River, turn right on Rock Riffle Road. Take the first left, where Rock Riffle Road turns
left. Park on the left side of the road (find a place to turn around, first, so you are parking the right way). At the foot of the
off-ramp from the highway, on the south side of Rock Riffle Road, there is a rough path going up, with the first ten feet or so
extremely steep. Take this path to the hilltop.
Named sites at Witches Hill: Back Section (1 problem), Front Section (10 problems)
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Meigs County
Evolution Boulder
This site is apparently on the US-33 right-of-way. The highway right-of-way
was established for a four-lane road, but only the two eastern lanes were built, so
this area has not yet been obliterated. Directions from the website say: “Head
down the new 33 (Athens to Darwin Connector) for 10 minutes until you get to
Rainbow Lake Road. Continue straight for 1.4 miles past Rainbow Lake Road and
park in the grassy area just in front of the guard rail on the east side of the road
(or westbound, whichever makes more sense to you...). Follow guard rail along
road until boulder is visible and hike down the hill where the grade is less steep.
Don't forget to check out the huge cave areas on both sides of the boulder. All
within state owned land.”
Hocking State Forest Rock-Climbing Area
This is a 90-acre area set aside in the Hocking Hills for rock climbing and
rappeling, generally between the Big Springs Waterfall and the Edison Waterfall.
To reach this site, take US-33 west 24.2 miles from OH-550 into Hocking County
to OH-664. Turn left on OH-664 and go 4.2 miles to Big Pine Road. Turn right
and go 5.7 miles to the rock-climbing area parking (on the right). Total driving
distance from downtown Athens to the rock-climbing area: 36.9 miles. From the
parking area, cross the road to the trailhead, which is also a trailhead for the
BENCAD Trail (page 8). There is an informational kiosk before the bridge, and
Rock Feature near Rock-Climbing Area
one with more information after the bridge. Go over the I-beam bridge (which is
an interesting feature in and of itself), and the climbing area trails go two ways. Turn right and follow Big Pine Run
downstream to reach Big Spring Falls; this is a half-mile from the bridge. Go straight for about a tenth of a mile to reach a 3way fork in the trail, which will take you to different parts of the area. The right-hand fork will connect with a trail that will
loop over to Big Spring Falls, and mostly follows bluffs. Going straight or left will take you to large boulders as well as
bluffs. It is possible to climb to the top of the cliff on a steep scramble two or three places along the cliff line. NOTE: When
visiting this area to climb or rappel, you MUST sign in at the second kiosk. You need not sign in if you are just hiking, and
this area is well-worth hiking.
Named sites at the Hocking Hills:
Big Block Area (AKA The Rectangle; 9 problems): via the Buckeye Trail to the left after crossing the bridge
Big Spring Hollow (1 problem): via the Big Spring Falls trail, to the right just after crossing the bridge
Six Crack Area (4 problems): reached from the Big Spring Falls trail, to the right just after crossing the bridge
Right Cliff (2 problems): reached from right fork at 3-way fork
Center Rock Right (2 problems): reached from the center fork at the 3-way fork
Evolution Rock: reached from the center fork at the 3-way fork
Birthday Rock: believed to be reached from the center fork at the 3-way fork
The Play Ground (6 problems); near birthday rock: also believed to be reached from the center fork
Left Cliff (2 problems): reached from the left fork at the 3-way fork
Shipwreck Rock (3 problems): reached from the left fork at the 3-way fork
Verde Rock (1 problem): reached from the left fork
Flap Jack: unknown location
Lake Vesuvius Recreation Area
This recreation area in the Wayne National Forest, Ironton District, has several mapped routes.
Named sites at Lake Vesuvius
Ambush Wall (1 problem)
Hidden Boulder (5 problem)
Baseball Field (7 problems)
The Dam (8)
Big Block on east side of lake (1 problem)
The Rock (8)
Symmes Creek
This area is also within the Ironton District of the Wayne National Forest.
Named sites at Symmes Creek:
Pebbles and Marbles, Shady Overhang, The Hemlocks, The Rock, The Symmes Creek Phase
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Disc Golf
The only public disc golf course in the area is at Forked Run State Park. The course is around the picnic areas around the
entryway to the park. For directions, see the park entry (page 29).
Nature Study
For some of us, a great idea of a good time is going out in the woods to see nature.
Ohio’s Extension Service offers the OCVN, Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalist Program. This program, with an $85 fee,
certifies individuals as volunteer naturalists, and includes 14 class sessions over two months. For more information, contact
Neil Fosnaugh at nfosnaugh@juno.com.
Botanical Study
For an even smaller group, the fun part is going out to see plants. Sure, the outdoors is full of plants, but what turns us on
is the variety – and the finding of rare plants.
For starters, there are well over one hundred species of woody plants native to Athens County. There are at least fifteen
species of native orchids. Around 35 species of true ferns can be found in our area, plus another ten species of plants that are
in groups that might be loosely called fern-allies. Then there are the spring wildflowers, and the mosses. And then there are
the fungi, which are not plants at all, but an entirely separate group of organisms.
One of the major hotspots in the county for field botany and mycology – the study of fungi – is Strouds Run State Park
and its surrounding area. For instance, a few of the rockhouses (shallow caves under sandstone bluffs) found around there
harbor a rare species of fern, Trichomanes intricatum, that is only known as a gametophyte (which is an alternate type of
sexual fern plant that looks like a moss or liverwort. Ferns have complicated sex lives). The wildflower display in Blue Ash
Valley, along the Rockhouse Trail, is guaranteed to be one of the most spectacular of such displays you’ve ever seen. This
area also includes the Riddle State Nature Preserve (page 34, map page 1), which has ancient, tall, massive trees.
Of course, a different type of flora may be seen at the Hocking Hills. Here are to be found some more southern types,
mixed with more northern types. Conkles Hollow is a great place to observe. A similar mix may be seen at Lake Katharine in
Jackson County. Two of the more southern magnolias, Magnolia tripetala and Magnolia macrophylla, grow there.
Birding
Birding remains one of the most popular outdoor activities, and southeast Ohio is a great place for birders. The Ora E.
Anderson Birding Trail was established in part of the Wayne National Forest.
Accessible Facilities
These are the specifically-accessible facilities that we’re aware of.
State Park Lodges
Burr Oak State Park, Morgan County
Shawnee State Park, Scioto County
Cottages
Lake Hope State Park, Vinton County
Burr Oak State Park, Morgan County
Camping
Burr Oak Cove Campground (Wayne National Forest), Athens County (1 site)
Lake Vesuvius Recreation Area (Wayne National Forest), Lawrence County; Oak Hill Campground (3 sites) and Iron
Ridge Campground (3 sites)
Picnic Shelters
Southside Park, City of Athens
Trails
Conkle's Hollow State Nature Preserve, Hocking County, 1 mile
Ash Cave unit of the Hocking Hills State Park, Hocking County, 1/4 mile
Hockhocking Adena Bikeway, Athens County, 21 miles
Shawnee State Park: Scioto County, Tree Trail, ½ mile
Fishing
Lake Vesuvius
Leith Run
State Lands
Fox Lake Wildlife Area
Jackson Lake State Park
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Public Lands of Southeast Ohio
Southeast Ohio has great public lands, with thickly forested hills, bluffs and streams. These areas are set aside for national
forest, state forest, state parks, state nature preserves, state wildlife areas, and other areas.
Websites for all state forests, parks, wildlife areas and nature preserves can be found through http://ohiodnr.com.
There are seven extensive public land complexes of great interest close to Athens. Such complexes of extensive public
land are critical to maintaining the great forests of our area, and to encouraging and maintaining the tourism trade.
Strouds Run Complex: Lands in central Athens County. Included are Strouds Run State Park, Sells Park, the Riddle State
Nature Preserve, the Strouds Ridge Preserve, the Blair Preserve, the Tucker Run Preserve, the Baker Easement, and two
small tracts of the Wayne National Forest, for a total acreage of about 3600 acres of public access lands.
Zaleski Complex: Lands in Vinton and Athens Counties. Included are the Zaleski State Forest, Vinton Furnace State Forest,
Waterloo State Forest, Lake Hope State Park, Waterloo Wildlife Research Station, Turkey Ridge Wildlife Area, Moonville
Rail-Trail, and an Appalachia Ohio Alliance' property, for a total of some 44,000 acres.
Trimble Complex: In Athens, Hocking, Morgan and Perry Counties. Included are part of the Wayne’s Athens District, Burr
Oak State Park, O’Dowd Wildlife Area, Trimble Township Community Forest, and Wolf Creek Wildlife Area.
Hocking Hills Complex: In Hocking County. Included are Hocking Hills State Park, Hocking State Forest, Conkles Hollow
State Nature Preserve, Little Rocky Hollow State Nature Preserve (closed to public), Sheikh Hollow State Nature Preserve
(closed to public), Clear Creek Metro Park, Lake Logan State Park, Rockbridge State Nature Preserve, Crane Hollow Nature
Preserve (private), Camp Oti-Okwa (private), and Appalachia Ohio Alliance lands, including Bison Hollow Preserve.
Wayne-Ironton Complex: Lands in Lawrence, Scioto, Gallia, Jackson and Counties. Included are the Wayne National Forest
- Ironton District, Dean State Forest, and lands owned by The Nature Conservancy, as well as Crown City Wildlife Area.
Shawnee Complex: Lands in Scioto and Adams Counties. Included are the Shawnee State Forest, Shawnee State Park, and
lands owned by The Nature Conservancy, for a total of some 70,000 acres.
Highlands Complex: Lands in Highland and Ross Counties. Included are Paint Creek State Park, Paint Creek Wildlife
Area, Lake State Park, Fort Hill State Memorial, part of Brush Creek State Forest, and Highlands Sanctuary.
The Wayne was established by proclamation in 1935 to buy up depleted, abused and marginal farm lands to allow them to
recover as forest. Today, the Wayne comprises 70,000 forested acres in twelve Ohio counties in southeast Ohio.
It is organized into three purchase districts. The Ironton Purchase District, with 30,000 acres, is mostly in Lawrence and
Jackson Counties, with small areas in Jackson and Gallia Counties, and is the most consolidated. The Marietta Purchase
District includes 18,000 acres, and is mostly in Washington and Monroe Counties, with some small areas in Noble Counties,
and is the most fragmented. The Athens Purchase District is in Athens, Hocking and Perry Counties with smaller areas in
Morgan and Vinton Counties, and is intermediate in degree of consolidation. It includes 22,000 acres.
The Wayne offers motorized recreation trails in the Athens District in southeast Hocking County, with the Dorr Run and
Long Run Trailheads. The Stone Church Equestrian Trail system is in Perry County. The Wildcat Hollow Trail, also in Perry
County, is just north of Burr Oak State Park and is in the process of being connected to the North Country - Buckeye Trail
system. The Buckeye Trail / North Country Trail loops, in part, through the Athens District of the Wayne in Morgan, Athens
and Perry Counties, and a small picnic area is provided on Utah Ridge in Athens County. The Wayne offers, in addition, a
campground at Burr Oak State Park north of Tom Jenkins Dam. The Wayne has considered a plan for establishment of a
system of mountain bicycle trails in Athens County, but no action has yet been taken on the plan.
Purchase of new property for the Wayne has greatly slowed in recent years, not due to decreased availability of willing
sellers, but due to sacristy of funding. Some acquisition continues, nonetheless.
There is an excellent documentary on the history of the Wayne, by Jean Andrews, available at the Athens Public Library.
Recreation facilities by district
Athens District
Burr Oak Cove Campground
To reach this campground, take OH-13 miles north from OH-550/US-33 at Athens, to Burr Oak Road. Turn right on Burr
Oak Road and go mile to the campground entrance, on the right.
Sand Run Picnic Area
To reach this picnic area, take US-33 miles west from OH-550 at Athens to OH-278 in Nelsonville (at the stoplight at the
Sunoco station on the far side of the town). Turn right (north) on OH-278 and go miles to County Road 28, Dawley
Road. Turn right on Dawley Road to the picnic area. Open April 15 to December 15.
Utah Ridge Picnic Area: This area is currently closed, but is on Utah Ridge Road near Doanville.
Stone Church Horse Trail
To reach this picnic area, take US-33 west 9.2 miles from OH-13/OH-550, to OH-78 in Nelsonville. Turn right on OH-78 and
go 6.5 miles to OH-216 in Murray City. Turn left on OH-216 and take it 6.4 miles to OH-93 at Shawnee. Go straight
onto OH-93 0.4 mile to Old Town Road, County Road 38, and turn right. Take it to the trailhead.
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Marietta Unit (Athens District)
Leith Run Recreation Area: Take US-50 east and continue on OH-7 after US-50 turns off. Take OH-7 about another 40
miles through Marietta to the turnoff; look for signs; the turnoff will be on the right.
Lamping Homestead Picnic Area: Take US-50 east, continue on OH-7 after US-50 turns off. Take OH-7 about another
18.8 miles into Marietta to OH-26. Take OH-26 about 34 miles to OH-537 and turn left. OH-26 is a VERY winding
road! Go about 1 ½ miles on OH-537 to the trailhead.
Ironton District
Timbre Ridge Lake: Follow directions to Crown City Wildlife Area, but continue on OH-790 to Lecta, and turn left on
County Road 37, and go about 1.4 miles to the trailhead.
Lake Vesuvius Recreation Area: Follow directions to Dean State Forest, but continue about another 7.8 miles on OH-93
past the OH-373 turnoff, and turn left on County Road 29 to the lake.
Kinderhook Horse Trail: Same as for Leith Run, above, but continue about 36 miles on OH-7 after US-50 turns off. Turn
left at County Road 25 and go about 0.8 mile to the trailhead at County Road 244.
Contact for the Wayne:
*Athens Ranger District: 13700 US Highway 33, Nelsonville, OH 45764; 740.753.0101. This office is located on US-33
about 4.6 miles west of the US-33/OH-550 intersection, between The Plains and Nelsonville (closer to The Plains).
*Marietta Unit (Athens District): 27750 Ohio State Route 7, Marietta, OH 45750; 740.373.9055. This office is located
east of Marietta on OH-7.
*Ironton Ranger District: 6518 Ohio State Route 93, Pedro, OH 45659; 740.534.6500. This office is located on OH-93 in
Lawrence County. Take OH-32 west from Athens to OH-93 at Jackson, then go south.
*Website: www.fs.fed.us/r9/wayne
*Local website: www.waynenationalforest.com
Ohio State Forests
Southeast Ohio is rich in state forests for the simple reason that it is the most rugged, heavily-forested area of the state,
AND because it is where, historically, there was the most failed farmland. State forests allow users to gather mushrooms,
berries and nuts. Removal of any roots is prohibited. Ginseng harvesting is legally theft.
Shawnee State Forest: 63,747 acres in Nile, Washington, Union, and Brush Creek Townships, Scioto County, and Green
and Jefferson Townships, Adams County, established 1922. Shawnee State Forest is one of our older state forests, having
been established in 1924. When the forest was first established, the philosophy was to create "forest parks," combining the
developed recreational aspects with the forestry aspects. In 1949, Shawnee Hills State Park was split off as its own entity, and
the state forest as a separate entity was created.
Shawnee is by far the largest of the state forests. Shawnee State Park, with 1,165 acres, nests in the middle of the forest.
The Nature Conservancy owns over six thousand acres to the west of the forest in Adams County, which is close to but not
connected to the forest, but also owns several hundred acres bordering the west side of the forest. Highlands Sanctuary also
owns some land on the west side of the forest. Boy Scout Camp Oyo, 52 acres, is surrounded by the Forest. This camp was
originally built during the Great Depression by the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps). A section of the Shawnee, about oneeighth, is designated as a wilderness area, the only area so designated in any state land. An adjacent area of about the same
size is designated as a backcountry management area. The Shawnee State Forests also features the 40-mile Shawnee
Backpacking Trail, which has two separate loops of 23 and 27.5 miles. There are 7 backpacking camps along the trail. The
BENCAD Trail (page 8) also wends through the Forest, sharing the backpacking trail for some distance. Several other trails
are in the Forest and in the state park. There are also about 60 miles of horse trails in the Forest, with a horse camp of 58
camping spaces.
To get to Shawnee from Athens, take US-33 about 28 miles west from OH-550/Columbus Road at Athens to OH-180. Exit
and turn left on OH-180. Take it four miles south to OH-678. Turn left on OH-678 and go four miles to OH-374.
Horse Camp: From this point, turn right on OH-374 and go 0.4 mile to Keister Road, Township Road 231. Turn left on
Keister Road and go one mile to the access road to the horse camp, which will be on the right. Turn right on that road, and
the horse camp is another 0.1 mile or so. Total driving distance from downtown Athens to the horse camp: 40.5 miles.
Zaleski State Forest: 26,827 acres, in Brown, Knox, Madison, Elk, and Swan Townships, Vinton County and York and
Waterloo Townships, Athens County, established from Depression-era resettlement programs. Zaleski is Ohio's secondlargest state forest, and is one of the oldest. It’s close to Athens. It surrounds 2,983-acre Lake Hope State Park, and borders
both the 2,667-acre Waterloo Wildlife Research Station and the 376-acre Turkey Ridge Wildlife Area. The Moonville RailTrail passes through the Forest, and the Vinton Furnace State Forest is not much more than a stone's-throw away to the
south. Part of the AEP Poston Plant Public Hunting Lands is very close to the east (Perry Ridge tract). The Zaleski also
features the 23.5-mile Zaleski Backpacking Trail, which may be hiked in three separate loops of 9.9, 8.1, and 5.8 miles.
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There are three backpacking camps along the trail. This trail connects with the
trail system of Lake Hope. There are also some 50 miles of horse trails, with a 16site horse camp. Mountain biking trails are located in adjacent Lake Hope State
Park.
To reach the Zaleski from Athens, take US-50 west 19 miles from US-33, then
turn right on OH-278 once in Vinton County. Forest headquarters will be on the
left at 4.0 miles, just past the village of Zaleski. The backpacking trailhead will be
on the right at about 8.6 miles. An alternate route is to take OH-56 13 miles west
from OH-682 at Athens to OH-278, and turn left. Then the backpacking trailhead
will be 4.7 miles from OH-56, and the forest headquarters will be at 9.3 miles.
Total distance from downtown Athens to backpacking trailhead: 28.2 miles.
Local forest website: http://www.zaleskistateforest.com
Waterloo State Forest: This is a separate state forest in name only, comprising
447 acres in Waterloo Township, Athens County and being one of the oldest
pieces of the state forest system. Today, it is managed as part of Zaleski State
Forest. To reach Waterloo from Athens, take US-50 west from Athens (which is at
first combined with Ohio State Route 32). Turn right on Ohio State Route 356,
and take it north to the Forest entrance, which is just after coming down a hill.
Tar Hollow State Forest: 16,354 acres in Eagle Township, Vinton County; Salt
Creek Township, Hocking County, and Colerain and Harrison Townships, Ross
Big Spring Falls, Hocking State Forest
County, established from Depression-era resettlement programs. Tar Hollow is
Ohio's third-largest state forest and surrounds 620-acre Tar Hollow State Park. It was purchased during the Great Depression
under a Federal program, and the original facilities at the park were built by depression programs. The BENCAD Trail (page
8) bisects Tar Hollow. There is a total of 22 miles of hiking trails there. The state forest also features 33 miles of horse trails
with a 46-site horse camp. The forest includes a 1,700-acre grouse management area.
To reach Tar Hollow from Athens, take US-50 37 miles to OH-671. Turn right and take OH-671 4.6 miles to OH-327.
For forest headquarters and the fire tower, then turn right on OH-327 and go 4.6 miles to Clark Hollow Road (State Forest
Road 2). Turn left and go about a half mile to the forest headquarters. For the fire tower, go about 3.1 miles on Clark Hollow
Road to South Ridge Road (State Forest Road 1). Turn right and go about 0.8 mile to the firetower. This is also where the
backpacking camp for the BENCAD Trail is (you must register first in the state park office).
For the horse camp, turn left on OH-327 and go about 1.7 miles to Poe Run Road (County Road 220). Turn right and go 3
miles to the camp. Total driving distance from downtown Athens to the horse camp: about 47 miles.
Vinton Furnace Experimental Forest: Formerly part of Raccoon Creek Ecological Management Area; 12,089 acres in
Vinton, Madison and Clinton Townships, Vinton County. This was originally Mead-WestVaCo forest land, but has been used
for forest research since the 1950s. It is Ohio's newest state forest, purchased in 2010. Day use only is permitted with the
following exception: there are three campsites in the Forest, only for use by hunters during deer firearm season and spring
turkey season. There are many old access roads that may be walked. This forest is administered through the Zaleski office.
To reach Vinton Furnace from Athens, take US Route 50 west (this begins as a shared roadway with Ohio State Route
32). Just west of Albany, turn right to stay on Route 50. Take it across Raccoon Creek and into Vinton County, then turn left
on the marked access road. Total driving distance from downtown Athens: about 21 miles.
Hocking State Forest: 9,696 acres in Benton, Laurel, Perry and Salt Creek Townships, Hocking County. Hocking State
Forest is one of our older state forests, having been established in 1924. When the forest was first established, the philosophy
was to create "forest parks," combining the developed recreational aspects with the forestry aspects. In 1949, Hocking Hills
State Park was split off as its own entity, and the state forest as a separate entity was created. In 1976, three state nature
preserves -- Conkles Hollow, Little Rocky Hollow, and Sheick Hollow -- were split off because it was recognized that these
were special areas.
This state forest is within the peak Blackhand sandstone region known as the Hocking Hills, featuring many cliffs and
other rock features. The Forest borders the several sections of the Hocking Hills State Park, and also the Crane Hollow Nature
Preserve (private) and Camp Oti-Okwa (private) as well. Clear Creek Metro Park is nearby. Three important nature
preserves -- Conkle's Hollow, Sheikh Hollow and Little Rocky Fork Hollow -- were carved out of what was originally
Hocking State Forest. This state forest offers 59 miles of hiking trails, 40 miles of horse trails, a horse camp with 23 sites,
and a 99-acre rockclimbing/rappeling area. The BENCAD Trail passes through the Forest, as well.
The rock-climbing area is well-worth a visit for hiking around in its own right, even if you’re not rock-climbing. To visit
Big Spring Falls, which may be the highest waterfall in the Hocking Hills, turn right just after the I-beam bridge.
Airplane Rock is also a scenic destination that can be reached via a white horse trail from the rock-climbing parking lot.
For trails, see the entry under the state park, page 30.
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To reach the horse camp, take US-33 west 27.5 miles from OH-550 into Hocking County to OH-180. Turn left (south) on
OH-180 and go 4.0 miles, then turn left on OH-678. Go 4.0 miles and turn right on OH-374 and go 0.4 mile to Keister Road,
Township Road 231. Turn left on Keister Road and go one mile to the access road to the horse camp, which will be on the
right. Turn right on that road, and the horse camp is another 0.1 mile or so.
Total driving distance from downtown Athens to the horse camp: 40.5 miles
To reach the rock-climbing area, take US-33 west 24.2 miles from OH-550 into Hocking County to OH-664. Turn left on
OH-664 and go 4.2 miles to Big Pine Road. Turn right and go 5.7 miles to the rock-climbing area parking (on the right).
Total driving distance from downtown Athens to the rock-climbing area: 36.9 miles
To reach the BENCAD trail parking, take US-33 west 24.2 miles from OH-550 into Hocking County to OH-664. Turn left
on OH-664 and go 4.2 miles to Big Pine Road. Turn right and go 4.1 miles to Kreashbaum Road. Turn right and go 0.4 mile
to the parking area (on the right). Total driving distance from downtown Athens to BENCAD trail parking: 35.7 miles.
Perry State Forest: 4,567 acres in Clayton Township, Perry County, established 1961. Perry is for day use only, except for
hunters under certain conditions. This state forest is one of only two state forests in our area that provide trails for all-purpose
vehicle off-road riding (maximum 50-inch width), 12 miles worth (the other is Richland Furnace). There are also 5.8 miles of
horse trails. Pedestrians are allowed on all trails, and mountain bikers are allowed on the APV trails.
Trails at Perry State Forest
The long APV loop uses Trails 5, 6, and 7, and totals 6.7 miles.
APV Trail 1: 2.5 miles, loop trail from entry road, providing access to Trails 3 and 4, blazed in blue
APV Trail 2: 0.6 mile, linear trail from entry road, blazed in red
APV Trail 3: 0.6 mile, loop trail off Trail 1, blazed in white
APV Trail 4: 0.5 mile, loop trail off Trail 1, blazed in orange
APV Trail 5: 0.7 mile, linear trail off parking area, providing access to Trails 6, 7, and 8, blazed in orange
APV Trail 6: 1.8 miles, loop trail off Trail 5, providing access to Trail 7, blazed in blue
APV Trail 7: 4.6 miles, loop trail off Trail 6, blazed in red
APV Trail 8: 0.7 mile, linear trail off trail 6, blazed in white
Horse Trail, Main Loop: 4.2 miles
Horse Trail, Connector: 1.6 miles
To get to Perry State Forest from Athens, take OH-13 35 miles north from US-33 at Columbus Road (OH-550) in Athens
to OH-345 in New Lexington (OH-13 turns left at about 29 miles).
For the APV trails, turn right on OH-345 and go 3 3/4 miles to Township Road 154, on the left. Turn left on T-154 and
go slightly more than 0.6 mile, where you will turn left into the parking area.
For the horse trails, continue on OH-13 another 2.5 miles to Township Highway 149. Turn right on T-149 and go 1.4
miles to Hollow Road (County Road 48). Turn right on Hollow Road and go 0.7 mile to the horse parking area.
There is a shortcut on OH-13 that can be taken to cut across the left turn: On OH-13, about 26.7 miles from US-33 (and
just after a railroad track crossing), turn left on Jamestown Road and take it 2 3/4 miles until it comes back out on OH-13.
Turn left on OH-13, and the reference point in New Lexington (junction with OH-345) will now be about 32 miles.
Total driving distance from downtown Athens to the APV parking area is 40 miles.
Total driving distance from downtown Athens to the horse parking area is also 40 miles.
Shade River State Forest: 2,859 acres in Olive Township, Meigs County, established in the 1950s. Shade River State Forest
is one of the most isolated state forests, and one of the newer ones, being a little over half a century old. Forked Run State
Park was carved out of this forest in , after Forked Run Lake was created. Extensive plantings of conifers were made on the
state forest in the 1950s. There are no developments on the forest, but it is open to hunting and general primitive use. Open
for day use only.
To get to Shade River State Forest, take US-50 east 19 miles from US-33 to OH-7, just before Coolville. Take OH-7 south
5 miles to Success Road, County road 46. Turn left on Success Road and go 3.2 miles to Number 9 Road, Township Road
265. Turn left on Number 9 Road. As soon as you turn, you will be in the forest. You will be continuously in the forest for 2
1/4 miles if you stay on Number 9 Road. At 2.0 miles, you can instead turn right on Lake Road, Township Road 277, and you
will be in the forest for another mile. Stay on Lake Road, which becomes Putnam Road at 1.3 miles at the intersection with
Hudson and Durst Roads. In another tenth of a mile, you will re-enter the forest and will be in it for most of the next mile
(with one pocket of private property). At this point, you will enter Forked Run State Park land for 0.3 mile, then in another
0.6 mile, you will come to OH-124. This is a total of about 4.3 miles on Lake-Putnam Roads. If you turn right, the main
entrance to the state park will be on your right in 0.8 mile.
Alternate scenic route (use ONLY if you have a back-roads-capable vehicle): After turning on OH-7, go 3 ½ miles to OH681. Turn left on OH-681 and go 5 1/4 miles to Harris Road, Township Road 266. Turn right on Harris Road, and it will
become State Forest Road 4, and will take you through the heart of the forest. You will enter the forest at about 1/3 mile. At 1
2/3 miles, you will come to a "T" intersection with Number 9 Road, Township Road 265. Total driving distance from
downtown Athens to the heart of the forest: about 32 miles.
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Dean State Forest: 2,745 acres in Decatur and Elizabeth Townships, Lawrence County, established 1916. Dean State Forest
is one of the oldest state forests in Ohio. It is now completely embedded within the Ironton District of the Wayne National
Forest, and shares almost six miles of boundary with existing Wayne lands. This was almost entirely deforested land when it
was first established in 1916, but it has again been widely clearcut in recent years, so trails may be problematical. There are
facilities there built by the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) during the Great Depression. The Forest features 26 miles of
horse trails.
Trails at Dean State Forest
Note: Horse trails are intended to be used in conjunction with forest roads, which are gravel, which adds considerably to
the riding trail length.
Pinkston Trail (full loop, access from OH-373 at both ends): 4.1 miles (loop)
southeastern leg: 1.6 miles
northwestern leg: 2.5 miles
Periscope Trail (linear, access from OH-373 and Loop Road): 1.0 mile
Periscope-Tar Kiln Connector (linear, access from trails only): 0.5 mile
Tar Kiln Trail (linear, access from OH-373 and Loop Road): 1.1 miles
School House Trail (linear, access from OH-373 and Loop Road): 1.3 miles
Locust Ridge Trail (linear, access from Loop Road and Texas Hollow Road, connects to Wayne): 2.0 miles
Easter Hollow Trail (linear, dead-end, access from Texas Hollow Road): 0.5 mile
Post Trail (linear, access from Loop Road and Texas Hollow Road): 0.5 mile
Bonnie Run Trail (linear, access from Wolf Road): 0.5 mile
Cemetery Trail (linear, dead-end, access from Loop Road): 0.3 mile
To get to Dean State Forest from Athens, take OH-32 37 miles west from US-33 at Athens to OH-93 at Jackson. From the
OH-93 exit ramp, turn left to go south on OH-93 and take it 29 miles to OH-373, which will be on the left. Turn left on OH373. At 0.3 mile, you can turn left on Loop Road to enter the forest; forest headquarters will be at 0.3 mile on the left. Five of
the horse trails intersect with Loop Road. You can, instead, stay on OH-373, which loops through the western part of the
forest, and four trails intersect with the state highway. Total driving distance from downtown Athens to forest HQ: 67 miles.
Richland Furnace State Forest: 2,524 acres in Washington and Coal Townships, Vinton Co. Its principal feature is APV
(all-purpose vehicle) trails. Motor vehicles on the trails must be less than 50 inches wide and have less than 40 horsepower.
This is one of only two state forests in our area that allow off-road motorized vehicles. The other is Perry State Forest.
There are approximately 7 miles of APV trails at the forest, all blazed in orange. The route designations in this list are
ones applied by this guide, not designations by the state. The only official trails are the APV trails. Be sure to check the APV
rules before riding these trails (trail numbers are our designations).
Trails at Richland Furnace State Forest
APV Route 1: 3.2 miles; APV Route 2: 2.0 miles; APV Route 3: 0.9 mile; APV Route 4: 0.5 mile; APV Route 5: 1.0 mile
To get to Richland Furnace State Forest from Athens, take OH-32 30 miles west from US-33 at Athens to OH-327. Turn
right off the exit ramp (north) onto OH-327. You will enter the state forest at 7.5 miles from OH-32 (OH-327 turns left in
Wellston at 2.5 miles). At about 9 miles, turn right on Loop Road (County Road 32) to reach the APV trailhead, which is
about another 0.8 mile on that road. Total driving distance from downtown Athens to the APV trailhead: 41 miles.
Gifford State Forest: 320 acres in Bern Township, Athens County. Gifford State Forest is the smallest state forest in Ohio. It
has long been used as a seed stock nursery by the state. It has been mined for coal in the past, mainly through the use of drift
mines. While the trails primarily go on the ridgetop, there are many beautiful bluffs and rock formations off the trails. There
are four miles of hiking trails.
To get to Gifford State Forest from Athens, take OH-550 14.4 miles northeast from US-33 at Columbus Road, to OH-377.
You will pass through Amesville at 10.3 miles on the way. At OH-377, OH-550 turns right to go up a long, steep hill; OH377 is straight ahead. Sharpsburg is to your left and a gas station is to your right. Go slightly less then ½ mile on OH-377 to
the public entrance to Gifford State Forest and turn left to the parking area. Total distance from downtown Athens: 18 miles.
Ohio State Parks
This guide features eight state parks, all reachable by a short drive from Athens. Ohio has a great state park system with a
lot of variety. Some parks have lodges. Most have lakes. All feature the Ohio countryside. State parks allow users to gather
mushrooms, berries and nuts. Removal of any roots is prohibited. Ginseng harvesting is legally theft.
Strouds Run State Park: 2,606 acres in Canaan and Ames Townships, Athens County. Strouds Run started out as the
Athens State Forest in 1946. Its conversion to a state park, some six decades ago, was coincident with the building of a dam
to create Dow Lake, with 160 acres of water surface. This park is heavily wooded and includes several areas stands of old
forest as well as scenic rock formations. It is a great spot for nature study – and it is often used for that purpose by nearby
Ohio University.
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Strouds Run is literally on the outskirts of the City of Athens.
The city owns the 284-acre Strouds Ridge preserve system that
connects with the park, and a network of hiking/mountain-biking
trails connects the two. Residents of Athens’ Far Eastside
Neighborhood can walk up the street to Sells Park and then walk
for miles on forest trails. This system includes 22-acre Sells Park
and the 106-acre Riddle State Nature Preserve (owned by the City
of Athens).
As can be seen from the location map, below, the park also is
contiguous with the 75-acre Blair Preserve, owned by the Athens
Conservancy, and is close to two outlying tracts of the Wayne
National Forest and to the 264-acre Baker Easement, held by the
Athens Conservancy, which provides a system of hiking and horse
trails. See page 1 for a color map of this state park.
Trailheads in the Strouds Run Area
Sells Park: At the end of Avon Place, off East State Street; turn at
Dow Lake from Shelterhouse 1
Larry Schey Chevrolet. Access to the Athens Trail,
Rockhouse Trail, and minor trails.
Pioneer Cemetery: On Strouds Run Road in Strouds Run State Park. Coming from Athens, first parking area on the right in
the park. Access to Hickory Trail, Finger Rock Trail and minor trails.
Dow Lake Dam: On US-50 / OH-32, east of the end of East State Street. Access to the Lakeview, Hickory, Sundown, Indian
Mound, and horse trails.
Dow Lake Swimming Beach: On Swimming Beach Road off Strouds Run Road in the state park. Access to Lakeview, Broken
Rock, Chestnut, horse trails.
Bike Path: On East State Street near the Pepsi plant. Access to the Hockhocking-Adena Bike Path and Athens Trail.
Horse Trailhead: On Lake Hill Road, off East Scatter Ridge Road (accessible from OH-690 and from Strouds Run Road).
Trails at Strouds Run State Park
Lakeview Trail: foot, part open to bike, horse: 3.0 miles
Chestnut Trail: 0.25 mile (Shelter 3 - Broken Rock)
(NE side of lake)
Thunderbunny Trail: bicycle, foot: 3.4 miles
Indian Mound Trail: foot/horse: 0.7 mile (Lakeview)
Scatter Ridge Connector: bicycle, foot: 0.85 mile
Athens Trail: foot, bicycle: 3.2 miles (Sells Park)
Sundown Trail: bicycle, foot: 3.2 miles
Rockhouse Trail: foot, bicycle: 2.7 miles (Sells Park)
Lake Hill Trail (on road): 0.7 mile (Trailhead)
Hickory Trail: foot, bicycle: 2.8 miles (SW side of lake)
Amoretto Trail: horse, foot: 0.7 mile (Lake Hill)
Trace Trail: foot, bicycle: 1.2 miles (Athens - Hickory)
Cliff Trail: horse, foot: 1.3 miles (Amoretto)
Finger Rock Trail: foot, bicycle: 1.2 miles (Athens Creek Trail: horse, foot: 0.6 mile (Amoretto)
Hickory)
Pete Smith Trail: horse, foot: 3.7 miles (Amoretto)
Strouds Run Trail: foot, bicycle: 0.3 mile (Hickory)
Boogie Trail: horse, foot: 1.4 miles (Pete Smith)
Vista Point Trail: foot: 1.5 miles (Campground)
Hermit Hut Trail: horse, foot: 0.7 mile (Lake Hill White Pine Trail: foot: 0.35 mile (Trailhead - Vista Pt.)
Lakeview)
Beaver Pond Trail: foot: 0.7 mile (Trailhead)
Haley Trail: horse, foot: 0.5 mile (Lake Hill - Lakeview)
Broken Rock Trail: foot: 1.5 miles (Trailheads)
Hank Trail: horse, foot: 0.4 mile (Lake Hill - Lakeview)
Athens Trail connector trails: Sourwood, Pawpaw, Basswood, White Ash, and White Oak trails are all short connector
trails between the Athens Trail and the Rockhouse Trail. The Lookout Trail in Sells Park is a short spur, and the
Cucumbertree Trail is an access trail from East State Street. All are open to mountain bikes, except for the Lookout Trail.
To get to Strouds Run from Athens, take Carpenter Street west (turn left from Court Street or East State Street, going
from downtown). Carpenter becomes Lancaster Street. Take this to the stoplight at the top of the hill and turn right. This is at
first Lancaster Street, then Columbia Avenue and then Strouds Run Road. Continue to a stop sign just after road goes over
US-33 on an overpass. Turn right at the stop sign (it is still called Strouds Run Road after turning) and drive 2.1 miles to
enter the park. Continue about another mile before turning right to reach the swimming beach or left to reach the
campground. Driving distance from downtown Athens to swimming beach: 5.4 miles.
Local website: http://www.burroakstatepark.org/Strouds%20Home%20Page%202010.htm
Friends website: http://www.friendsofstroudsrun.org
Burr Oak State Park: 2,593 acres in Trimble Township, Athens County and Homer and Union Townships, Morgan
County. Burr Oak State Park has a 654-acre lake nestled forested, hilly land. The lake was originally created for flood
control, on the East Branch of Sunday Creek. The park has a good trail system, with the BENCAD Trail (page 8) passing
through the park. There are several nice rockhouses with small waterfalls when it rains. There are four boat docks (one a fullfledged marina) and two boat ramps. There is a main park campground, but also a nearby National Forest campground, as
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well as two smaller campgrounds at boat docks 2 and 3. The park features a lodge and cabins, as well as two swimming
beaches. There is also a system of horse trails. The Wildcat Hollow Trail in the Wayne National Forest is very close to the
backpacking trail loop, and easily reachable by foot from it (page 6). THIS MAY BE YOUR LAST SUMMER TO ENJOY
BURR OAK STATE PARK AS IT IS. Governor John Kasich plans to turn this park into an ATV park.
Trails at Burr Oak State Park
BENCAD Trail: 12.6 mi (Sunday Creek Rd to OH-13)
Lakeside Trail: 3.2 miles (dam to marina/dock 4)
Buckeye Loop: 1.9 miles, group camp to BENCAD (3.8
Camp Trail: 1.2 miles (amphitheater to store)
miles full loop, with BENCAD)
Blue Horse Trail: 1.5 miles (horse area south)
Tanager Trail: 0.45 mile (BENCAD to Buckeye Loop)
Yellow Horse Trail: 3.9 mi (horse a.-Sunday Crk. Rd.)
Red Fox Trail: 0.75 mile (lodge road to BENCAD)
Red Horse Trail: 4.0 mi (horse area- Sunday Crk. Rd.)
Chipmunk Trail: 0.4 mile (ranger station to boat ramp)
White Horse Trail: 1.0 mile (Red Horse Trail)
Lakeview Trail: 0.8 mile (Burr Oak Cove - Lakeside)
Burr Oak Backpacking Trail: 22.1 miles
To reach Burr Oak SP, take OH-13 north 12.6 miles from US-33 to OH-78 East. Then, to go to boat docks 1, 2, or 3 or to
the park lodge, turn right on OH-78; it’s then 4.9 miles to the park lodge (4.2 miles to the turnoff). To go to the dam, the
National Forest Service campground, the park’s main campground, the equestrian trails, or the swimming beach, continue
straight on OH-13; it’s 3.1 miles to the dam turnoff. After the turnoff to the dam, turn right at the next opportunity on Burr
Oak Road to get to the other areas. Total driving distance from downtown Athens to the Burr Oak lodge: 21.5 miles.
Local website: http://www.burroakstatepark.org
Lake Hope State Park: 2,983 acres in Brown Township, Vinton County. Lake Hope State Park is embedded within Zaleski
State Forest, in Vinton County, and is centered around the 120-acre lake. It has a network of hiking and mountain biking
trails, as well as its namesake lake. The trail system here connects with the Zaleski Backpacking Trail. Lake Hope acquired
its name from the Hope Furnace, an iron-smelting furnace that still partially stands near the head of the lake, and is viewable
and readily accessible from OH-278. This park used to feature an historic lodge, but it burned down several years ago. The
Friends group is working to raise money to build a new one. There are a number of rental cabins available, however, as well
as camping. There is a swimming beach and a boat ramp.
Lake Hope Trails: Bicycles Allowed
Lake Hope Trails: Bicycles NOT Allowed; Foot Traffic Only
Little Sandy Trail: Length: 2.0 miles
White Oak Trail: 0.3 mile
Sidewinder Trail: Length: 2.5 miles
Buzzard Roost Trail: 0.3 mile
Cabin Ridge Connector: Length: 0.3 mile
Peninsula Trail: 2.7 miles
Copperhead Trail: Length: 5.2 miles
Greenbriar Trail: 0.3 mile
Wildcat Trail: Length: 3.5 miles
Laurel Lodge Connector: 0.15 mile
Bobcat Trail: Length: 0.8 mile
Laurel Lodge Loop
Yosemite Trail: 1.1 miles
Olds Hollow Trail: 0.7 mile
Yosemite Falls Trail: Length: 0.8 mile
Zaleski Backpacking Trail: 28.5 miles
Habron Hollow Trail: Length: 1.3 miles
Red Oak Trail: Length: 0.3 mile
Hope Furnace Trail: Length: 3.4 miles
To reach Lake Hope SP, take OH-56 west 13 miles into Vinton County, to
OH-278. Turn left on OH-278 and the swimming beach turnoff is at 6.1 miles;
the other three park entrances are sooner. This is a very scenic drive with some
very sharp curves, and may also occasionally be closed due to flooding. An
alternate route is to take US-50 west 19 miles from US-33, then turn right on
OH-278 and the swimming beach turnoff will be at 7.2 miles.
Distance from downtown Athens: 21 miles to the swimming-beach turnoff.
A black-and-white map of this park is on page 30.
Local park website: http://www.lakehopestatepark.com
Forked Run State Park: 967 acres in Olive Township, Meigs County. Forked
Run is the only state park in Meigs County. It was split from Shade River State
Forest. Forked Run Lake is 120 acres in size. The park has a well-developed,
nice hilltop campground that serves as a great resource for people going on a
Hope Furnace at Lake Hope State Park
boating vacation on the nearby Ohio River, using the Division of Wildlife Ohio
River access boat ramp that’s almost in front of the park (to reach the Ohio River boat ramp from the park entrance, leaving
the park, turn left on the state highway and it’s the second left). Forked Run Lake has a small swimming beach with an
adjacent picnic area. There’s also a nature center and a boat ramp in the lake. There’s also a popular disk golf course. Hiking
trails are not extensive, but can occupy an afternoon.
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Lake Hope State Park
30
Trails at Forked Run State Park
Honeysuckle Self-Guided Nature Trail: 0.5; access just west of beginning of campground road
Riverview (with no view of the river): 1.0 mile; access from end of campground road; connects with Deer Run
Deer Run Trail: 0.7 mile; access from end of campground road (through playground); connects with Riverview
Lakeview Trail: 2.2 miles; access from swimming beach parking lot and from end of campground road
To reach Forked Run SP, take US-50 east 20.8 miles from US-33 to OH-144, just past Coolville. Turn right on OH-144,
and go south 4.7 miles to Hockingport and OH-124. Turn right on OH-124 and go 8.2 miles to the park entrance. Total
distance from downtown Athens: 35.1 mile
Forked Run State Park
Hocking Hills State Park: 2,356 acres in Benton and Laurel Townships, Hocking County. Hocking Hills is probably Ohio’s
most spectacular state park. It features towering cliffs, canyons, rockhouses, and waterfalls. Unlike most state parks, it is in
four disconnected sections across a fairly large area of Hocking County.
This park owes its exceptionally scenic features to the blackhand sandstone, a very thick, erosion-resistant sandstone rock.
This rock is named after petroglyphs found on the formation near Newark, Ohio, where it is also well-developed. The most
popular area of the park is Old Man’s Cave. The other sections are Ash Cave, Cedar Falls, Cantwell Cliffs and Rockhouse.
Old Man’s Cave features a gorge with sheer walls and many undercuts. Ash Cave is a huge rockhouse (shallow cave) with
a large overhang. Cedar Falls is a waterfall on Queer Creek into a gorge. Cantwell Cliffs is a cliff system with an intricate
trail system along the cliffs. Rockhouse is the head of a gorge with a large cave with windows out onto the valley.
Although Old Man’s Cave, Cedar Falls and Ash Cave are contiguous, the other sections are not. It’s easiest to drive
between them. Other attractions in the Hocking Hills also include Conkles Hollow State Nature Preserve (page 35), Rock
Bridge State Nature Preserve (page 35), Lake Logan State Park (page 34), and Clear Creek Metro Park (page 41). Ohio State
Route 374 connects all the major features. Cantwell Cliffs is the farthest to the northwest, while Ash Cave is the farthest to
the southeast. Taking it from US-33, it passes by: 1. Cantwell Cliffs, 2. Rockhouse, 3. Horse area, 4. Big Pine Road (Conkles
Hollow and rock-climbing area), 5. Old Man’s Cave, 6. Cedar Falls, 7. Ash Cave.
Old Man’s Cave can be traversed via a well-developed trail that starts at the top and descends through the gorge. You’ll
see several waterfalls and huge rockhouses (which give this place its “cave” name). At one point below the lower falls, you
can exit the gorge via a long set of steps that ascend through a tunnel in the rock. You can also continue on the Grandma
Gatewood Trail, which is also the BENCAD Trail here, down to Ash Cave, a distance of 2.5 miles. The section of this trail
between Old Man’s Cave and Cedar Falls (roughly half way to Ash Cave) features many scenic rock formations.
Rose Lake comprises 17 acres and is a short walk from the campground. A parking area on OH-374 on top of the hill is
specifically for Rose Lake fishing, with a half-mile trail leading to the lake.
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Trails in the Hocking Hills Region:
Accessible Trails: There are several fully-accessible trails (accessible to people in wheelchairs and with other disabilities):
*Hockhocking Expedition Trail
*Grandma Gatewood Trail, Lower Ash Cave Section
*Conkles Hollow Gorge Trail.
Visitors' Center
Hockhocking Expedition Trail: short accessible trail with interpretive facilities
Bluebird Trail: short trail, connecting with above trail and BENCAD Horse Bypass Trail; bluebird houses
BENCAD Trail
Kreashbaum Road Section: 3.5 miles - from Starr Route Road to Kreashbaum Road parking area
Big Pine Road Section: 1.9 miles - on Big Pine Road, from rock-climbing area and up Kreashbaum Road
Rock Climbing Area Section: 2.0 miles: from Big Pine Road to Unger Road
Rock Climbing Area Trails
Rock Climbing Area Horse Bypass: 0.6 mile: from Edison Hollow to Big Spring Hollow
Culp Road Section: 1.5 miles: from Unger Road to visitor center; includes 1/3 mile on Culp Road
Grandma Gatewood Trail: 4.7 miles: from visitor center to Cedar Falls
Grandma Gatewood Trail, Old Man's Cave to Cedar Falls: 2.8 miles
Grandma Gatewood Trail, Old Man's Cave Section: 0.5 mile
Grandma Gatewood Trail, Queer Creek Section: 2.3 miles
Grandma Gatewood Trail, Cedar Falls to Ash Cave: 1.9 miles
Grandma Gatewood Trail, Cedar Falls Section: 0.7 mile
Grandma Gatewood Trail, Upper Ash Cave Section: 0.9 mile
Grandma Gatewood Trail, Lower Ash Cave Section: 0.3 mile
Hocking Hills Bypass Trail, Gorge Bypass: 2.5 miles - from archery
range to parking on OH-374 at Cedar Falls
Hocking Hills Bypass Trail, Ash Cave Bypass: 2.6 miles: from OH374 Cedar Falls parking to Ash Cave parking
Gorge Rim
Gorge Rim Trail: 3.1 miles - visitor center to Steps of Democracy at Cedar Falls
Gorge Overview Trail: 0.2 mile: section of original Gorge Rim Trail
(most of it is now closed), from Grandma Gatewood Trail at
the head of Old Man’s Cave Gorge to the gorge bridge
Rose Lake Trails
Rose Lake Trail: 0.5 mile - from Rose Lake fishing parking on OH-374 (top of
hill) to Rose Lake
Broken Rock Falls
Campground Connector Trail: 0.4 mile - from head of Rose Lake to campground
Rose Lake Loop Trail: 1.0 mile - from Gorge Rim Trail to Campground Connector Trail and back, around lake
Conkles Hollow Trails
Conkles Hollow Gorge Trail: 0.6 mile - accessible, up gorge from parking area
Conkles Hollow Rim Trail: 2.0 miles - from gorge trail around rim back to gorge trail
Horse Trails: 47 miles
Red Horse Trail: 5.1 miles - from horse camp, SW then S to small valley overlooking Big Pine Road
Purple Horse Trail: 4.6 miles - from Red Horse Trail W of horse camp, SE to Orange Horse Trail W of OH-374
Orange Horse Trail: 4.5 miles - from horse camp, SE to Airplane Rock, skirting NE side of Conkles Hollow
White Horse Trails: 19 miles - various trails connecting with the above; see map
BENCAD Trail for Horses: 13.8 miles - from Starr Route Road to Ash Cave - horses MUST take white-blazed
bypasses around rock-climbing area and around Grandma Gatewood Trail
Mountain-Biking Trails: 3.3 miles combined 0-loop; 3.8 miles combined 8-loop
Orange Bike Trail: 1.9 miles - from group camp parking area, on north side of old township road. NOTE: This trail
is significantly easier to ride clockwise than counter-clockwise.
Purple Bike Trail: 1.9 miles - from group camp parking area, on south side of old township road, to end of group
camping area road, then back road to parking area. May be slightly easier to ride counter-clockwise.
Archery Trail: 0.25 mile
To reach Old Man’s Cave from Athens, take US-33 west 24.5 miles from OH-550 to OH-644 at Logan. Then take OH644 south 10 miles to Old Man’s Cave. Warning: 644 is very winding! See page 33 for a map of the southeastern area of
Hocking Hills State Park. Total distance from downtown Athens: 36.9 miles.
Friends website: http://www.friendsofhockinghills.org/aws/FHHSP/pt/sp/home_page
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Hocking Hills State Park
Southeastern Section
contour interval = 20’
Tar Hollow State Park: 602 acres in Salt Creek Township, Hocking County, and Colerain and Harrison Townships, Ross
County. Tar Hollow State Park is embedded within Tar Hollow State Forest. Tar Hollow began as a depression-era land
reclamation and employment project. The name derives from the former industry of pine tar extraction.
There are three campgrounds in the main area, one of which specializes in RVs. There are another four campgrounds to the
west, embedded within the state forest on top of the ridge, plus a backpacking campground for the Buckeye Trail. There is a
15-acre lake, Pine Lake, with a swimming beach at the top end. There is a boat ramp on the lake, but only electric motors are
allowed. Other park amenities include group camping cabins, two amphitheaters, a miniature golf course, a game room in the
park center (at the miniature golf course), volleyball courts, a pavilion (Big Shelterhouse) and picnic areas.
Trails at Tar Hollow State Park
BENCAD Trail: Traverses the Forest and the Park; miles within these lands. Foot only. Blazed in light blue.
Logan Boy Scout Trail: "Figure-8" loop; center at the fire tower. The full loop is 21 miles. Foot only. Blazed in red.
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Ross Hollow Trail: 4.5-mile semi-loop trail between campgrounds, mostly in the park. Foot only. Blazed in yellow.
Bridle Trails: A network in the southern area of the state forest. 25 miles total. Horse and foot. Blazed in white.
Homestead Trail: A short loop trail, southeast of the lake, mostly within the park. Bicycle and foot.
Pine Run Bike Trail: A 2.5-mile mountain bike trail, beginning at the camp store.
To reach Tar Hollow SP, take US-50 west 37.3 miles from US-33 to OH- 671. Turn right on OH-671and take it 4.7 miles
to OH-327. Turn right on OH-327 and take it 6.8 miles to the park entrance. Total distance from downtown Athens: 60 miles.
Lake Alma State Park: 292 acres in Clinton Township, Vinton County and Milton Township, Jackson County. The park is
situated around the 60-acre lake, and exists primarily to provide recreational access to a waterfront, as well as picnicking
options. It's in southernmost Vinton County, on the border of Jackson County near Wellston.
Trails at Lake Alma State Park
Old Pine Trail: 0.4 mile (north side of park); Sassafras Trail (east side of park): 0.6 mile; Acorn Trail: 1.0 mile
To reach Lake Alma SP, from Athens, take OH-32 west 19.8 miles from US-33 to OH-160. Turn right on OH-160 and go
9.4 miles, then turn left on OH-349 at Hamden. You will enter Lake Alma on OH-349 after less than a mile. Total driving
distance from downtown Athens: 32 miles.
Local park website: http://www.zoomnet.net/~alma
Lake Logan State Park: 741 acres in Falls Township, Hocking County. Like Lake Alma, this park exists because of the
human-made 311-acre lake after which the park is named. There are a few outlying wild areas, but the park mostly consists of
the lake and waterfront. This lake is readily accessible from Athens. Bald Eagles are sometimes seen at Lake Logan.
Trails at Lake Logan State Park
Pine Vista Trail: 1 mile, loop, close to park office on north side of lake
South Hiking Trail: 0.5 mile, loop, from end of Blosser Road (County Road 53) on the south side of lake
To reach Lake Logan SP, take US-33 west 24.5 miles from OH-550 to OH-644 at Logan. Turn left from the exit and go
about a half-mile to the park entrance. Total distance from downtown Athens: 27.1 miles.
Jackson Lake State Park: 378 acres in Jefferson Township, Jackson County. Jackson Lake State Park is a very small park,
with two well-separated state-owned areas fronting on Jackson Lake. The main attraction at the park is certainly the lake,
which is wholly owned by the Division of Parks, although only small portions of the shoreline are. The main activities at the
park are boating, fishing, swimming, picnicking, and camping. The campground, with 34 spaces, is RV-friendly. No trails.
To reach Jackson Lake SP, take OH-32 west from OH-682 37.7 miles to OH-93. Turn left off the end of the ramp, and go
11.5 miles to OH-279 West in the village of Oak Hill. Turn right to the park; you will enter the park at 1.1 miles. The boat
ramp is on the left. Go another quarter mile and turn right on Tommy Bean Road (County Road 8) to reach the swimming
beach, picnic areas, and campground. Total driving distance from downtown Athens to the campground: 52 miles.
Nature preserves in Ohio have strict rules. Visitors MUST stay on trails. No dogs are allowed, even on leash. No collecting
of any kind is permitted, not even of nuts, berries, or mushrooms. Please observe the rules if you visit these special places!
Athens County
Marie J. Desonier State Nature Preserve: 502 acres in Carthage Township. The preserve is in Deep Hollow, drained by
Jordan Run. It was donated to the state by Ms. Desonier's family after her death. Locally, it's pronounced "des-a-NEER". The
preserve features a loop trail.
To get there, go east on US-50 16.3 miles from US-33 to Brimstone Road, County Road 56, and turn left (a state sign is
posted on the highway). Loop around on Brimstone Road 0.5 mile and take your second left, which is unmarked, on Deep
Hollow Road, County Road 65, which is a gravel road. The parking area will be at about 0.7 mile on your left. Total distance
from downtown Athens: 19 miles.
Dale and Jackie Riddle State Nature Preserve: 106 acres (owned by City of Athens, Ohio) in Athens Township. This
preserve includes most of an 85-acre old-growth forest remnant known as Hawk Woods, a forest area which has not been
materially disturbed for some century and a half. There are no trails within the old-growth forest, although there are trails
traversing the southern part of the preserve. This preserve borders Sells Park and the Strouds Ridge Preserve, both owned by
Athens, and the Strouds Ridge Preserve in turn connects with Strouds Run State Park (see page 27, map page 1). The Athens
Trail traverses this preserve on the ridgetop and the Rockhouse Trail traverses it farther down, with the Sourwood Trail
connecting the two within the preserve.
To get there from Athens, take East State Street east from US-33, to Avon Place, and turn left. Avon Place is after the
Maplewood Inn, between two sections of Larry Schey dealerships, and directly across from the exercise room at the
Community Center. Go to the end of Avon Place to Sells Park, and from there, you can hike into the preserve. Total distance
from downtown Athens: 2.0 miles.
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Washington County
Boord State Nature Preserve: 127 acres in Fairfield Township. This nature preserve has a small parking area and a short
loop trail. It features a small hemlock-sandstone gorge with a waterfall. It borders a girl scout camp on the west side, but is
otherwise surrounded by farmland.
To reach Boord, take OH-550 east from US-33 24.7 miles to Burnett Road, Washington Co-6 (turn right at 14.4 miles to
stay on 550; turnoff is past Bartlett and before Barlow). Turn right on Burnett and go 0.6 mile to Falls Run Road, Twp-69.
Turn right and go 0.2 mile to the parking area. Total distance from downtown Athens: 28 miles
Hocking County
Conkle's Hollow State Nature Preserve: 87 acres in Benton and Laurel Townships. Conkle's Hollow is part and parcel of
the Hocking Hills complex, with spectacular cliffs formed of the Blackhand sandstone. These are some of the highest cliffs in
the state. Conkle’s shelters many more northern-type plant species. This preserve features a paved handicapped-accessible
trail that extends most of the way up this deep canyon from the parking area. There is also a rim trail. Very close by are two
other publicly-owned preserves, Sheikh Hollow State Nature Preserve and Little Rocky Fork Hollow State Nature Preserve,
both of which are closed to the public. All three of these preserves are embedded within the Hocking State Forest (and were
carved out of the Forest).
Conkles Hollow Trails: Conkles Hollow Gorge Trail: 0.6 mile; Conkles Hollow Rim Trail: 2.0 miles
To reach Conkles Hollow, take US-33 27.5 miles west from OH-550 to the OH-180 exit. Turn left onto OH-180 and take
it 3.8 miles to OH-678. Turn left on 678 and take it 4.0 miles to OH-374. Turn left on OH-374 and take it 3.4 miles to Big
Pine Road, Co-11. Turn left to the entrance to the preserve, 0.2 mile. Total distance from downtown Athens: 41 miles.
Rock Bridge State Nature Preserve: 202 acres in Good Hope and Marion Townships. 2.75 miles of trails. This preserve
features the largest natural bridge (a sandstone arch) in the state of Ohio. The preserve fronts on the Hocking River, with the
natural bridge on a side stream close to the river. Rockbridge Preserve is close to and generally considered part of the
Hocking Hills complex.
To reach Rock Bridge, take US-33 28.5 miles west from OH-550 to Dalton Road, Twp-503. Turn right and go a little less
than a mile to the parking area. Total distance from downtown Athens: 32 miles.
Kessler Swamp State Nature Preserve: 20 acres, Marion Township. This is one of the smallest preserves, saving a natural
swamp area. There is a small parking pulloff and observation platform there. An interesting variety of wildlife may be seen at
this preserve, including beaver.
To reach Kessler, take US-33 24.5 miles west from OH-550 to OH-664. Turn right off the ramp and take 664 8.3 miles to
Hide-a-Way Hills Road, Co-82. Turn left and go 2.7 miles to the preserve. Total distance from downtown Athens: 38 miles.
Jackson County
Lake Katharine State Nature Preserve: 2,019 acres in Liberty Township. Six miles of trails. This preserve is in a sandstone
gorge system similar to the Hocking Hills area but smaller. The gorge system harbors several species of plants that are rare in
southeastern Ohio. Unusual plants include the bigleaf magnolia (Magnolia macrophylla), umbrella magnolia (Magnolia
tripetala), and wolf's-foot clubmoss (Lycopodium clavatum). The preserve borders the northwest border of the city of Jackson,
Ohio. It includes a human-made lake that may be used by special permit, but only muscle-powered boating is allowed (and
boats must be carried to the water).
From the state's official website: "Reservations for permits may be obtained by telephoning the preserve office (740-2862487) on the LAST Friday of each month between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Each caller may make only one permit reservation per
call and not more than one reservation in their name per month. Dates for the following month will be filled on a first call
basis, until all available times have been reserved."
Trails at Lake Katharine
Calico Bush Trail - 1 mile, along the south rim of the main gorge
Pine Ridge Trail - 2 ½ miles, across the gorge, and on the south rim
Salt Creek Trail - 2 mile, along Salt Creek, on the east side of the preserve - CURRENTLY CLOSED
To reach Lake Katharine, take OH-32 west from OH-682 37.7 miles to OH-93. Turn right off the ramp and go 1.3 miles
through Jackson to Bridge Street, where 93 takes a right turn. Turn left (Bridge Street becomes State Street) and go 1.9 miles
to Lake Katharine Road, immediately after a railroad crossing. Turn right and go 1.5 miles to the parking area. Total distance
from downtown Athens: 45 miles.
Lawrence County
Compass Plant Prairie State Nature Preserve (Ora E. Anderson Prairie): 16 acres in Mason Township. This is the
only place in Ohio where the usually-western compass-plant (Silphium laciniatum) may be found. The preserve is
undeveloped. Visitors may park along the roadside of Ohio State Route 141.
To reach this preserve, take US-33 18.2 miles east (south) from US-50 to OH-7. Turn right (west) on OH-7 and go 18
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miles to US-35. Turn right on the ramp for 35 west (north) and go 13.2 miles to OH-325. Turn left (south) and go 7.1 miles
to OH-141. Turn right and go 19.0 miles to the preserve (turn right at 17.7 miles to stay on 141). This is a very curvy road.
Total distance from downtown Athens: 77 miles
Unlike state parks, state forests and state nature preserves, state wildlife areas make contributions to local property tax
systems through contributions made possible by hunting and fishing licenses. State wildlife areas are considerably more in
number than state forests, state parks or state nature preserves. However, camping is not allowed in state wildlife areas, and
few of them have usable trails or will allow new trails to be established.
This is a list of all the wildlife areas in the state over five thousand acres (those in bold are described in this guide):
Salt Fork Wildlife Area: 20,542 acres, Guernsey County
Woodbury Wildlife Area: 19,050 acres, Coshocton County
Egypt Valley Wildlife Area: 18,011 acres, Belmont and Guernsey Counties
Tri-Valley Wildlife Area: 16,200 acres, Muskingum County
Crown City Wildlife Area: 11,171 acres, Gallia and Lawrence Counties
Paint Creek Wildlife Area: 11,024 acres, Highland and Ross Counties
Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area: 9,230 acres, Wyandot and Marion Counties
Deer Creek Wildlife Area: 8,662 acres, Fayette, Madison and Pickaway Counties
Berlin Lake Wildlife Area: 8,518 acres, Stark, Mahoning and Portage Counties
West Branch Wildlife Area: 8,002 acres, Portage County
Grand River Wildlife Area: 7,453 acres, Trumbull County
Delaware Wildlife Area: 6,875 acres, Delaware, Marion and Morrow Counties
Wallace H. O'Dowd Wildlife Area: 6,696 acres: Athens and Hocking Counties
Big Island Wildlife Area: 5,722 acres, Marion County
Killbuck Marsh Wildlife Area: 5,671 acres, Wayne and Holmes Counties
Cooper Hollow Wildlife Area: 5,421 acres, Jackson County
State wildlife areas allow users to gather mushrooms, berries and nuts. Removal of any roots is prohibited. Ginseng
harvesting is legally theft.
Athens County
Waterloo Wildlife Research Station: 2,667 acres in Waterloo Township. This wildlife area is part of the Zaleski complex,
and occupies most of the area bounded by the Athens-Vinton County line on the west, Ohio State Route 56 on the north and
the east, and King Hollow Road on the south. It extensively borders the Zaleski State Forest, and with the forest shares a wild
turkey management area. This wildlife area was increased in size by about fifty percent within the past decade, buying old
coal company lands. This property has a few gravel access roads as well as 35 trails -- but those trails are no longer
maintained. Many of these trails were former fire access lanes. Penrod Lake is a small fishing lake (or large pond) on the
property, just west of Buckeye Rocks, which is one of the larger cliff faces in the county. Buckeye Rocks features some
spectacular poison ivy vines! Waterloo Wildlife was originally known as the Waterloo Wildlife Experiment Station, then
became Research Station, and once featured wildlife offices and a laboratory. These facilities are no longer housed there, but
the building now houses the Raccoon Creek
To reach Waterloo Wildlife Research Station, take OH-56 8.2 miles west from OH-682 at Athens, to OH-356. Turn left.
This is on a sharp and blind curve on OH-56, so proceed with caution. After turning left on OH-356, turn right almost
immediately into the entrance. At the building complex, going straight leads to Buckeye Rocks and the ponds. Going right
goes up on the ridge to the trails area. Total distance from downtown Athens: 9.9 miles
Wallace H. O'Dowd Wildlife Area: 6,696 acres in Trimble Township, and Ward Township, Hocking County. This area
includes areas formerly known as the Sunday Creek Wildlife Area, when it was owned by Sunday Creek Coal Company and
made available through a cooperative agreement with the state Division of Wildlife, and the Trimble Wildlife Area. It is
completely undeveloped but has a few through roads and a few ponds. The BENCAD Trail (page 8) passes through the
northern part of this area, partly on a gravel through-road, partly on an old closed roadway.
To reach this area from Athens, go out Columbus Road to Ohio State Route 13. Turn left on Ohio State Route 13, then
turn right in Chauncey to stay on 13.
Then, for the northern part of the area (the former Trimble Wildlife Area), go 8.8 miles to Glouster from the turn in
Chauncey. At the stoplight in Glouster, turn left on Ohio State Route 78. Go 2.35 miles to Hunterdon Road and turn right.
Go 1.3 miles on Hunterdon Road to a fork, where the right-hand fork goes steeply uphill. Take that right-hand fork (the lefthand fork quickly dead-ends).
For the southern part of the area, go 3.7 miles on OH-13 from the turn in Chauncey to Truetown Road to the left (to the
right the same road, the old route 13, is Main Street for Millfield). Turn left on Truetown Road and go 1.6 miles to Ohio State
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Route 685. Turn left on 685 and go 0.7 mile to Greens Run Road. Turn right on Greens Run (County Road 96), which will
eventually become Goose Run Road (County Road 67), and you will enter the wildlife area at 2.1 miles and exit it at 4.1
miles. If you continue on this road, it will tee into OH-78 at 4.5 miles. To get to the Hocking County portion of the area, turn
right on OH-78 and go 0.6 mile to your first left, which is Jobs-New Pittsburgh Road (Hocking County Road 22). Turn left,
and you'll enter the wildlife area at 0.4 mile and exit it at 2.7 miles. Total distance from downtown Athens (southern area): 11
miles; (northern area): 17 miles.
Fox Lake Wildlife Area: 421 acres in Waterloo Twp. Fox Lake is nestled in its own valley, ringed by sandstone bluffs. The
area is centered around a 48-acre lake. The upper end of the lake, off Fox Lake Road, has a paved parking area, boat ramp
and accessible fishing dock. The dam end of the lake, off Brown Road, features a gravel parking area only. This wildlife area
had its origins in 1966 and the dam, built as one of six flood-control dams on Margaret Creek, was built in 1967-1968. There
is a trail on the south side of the lake. It is most easily reached from the upper parking area. The trail continuously overlooks
the lake, under low sandstone bluffs. There are some higher bluffs on the north side of the lake near the dam.
To reach Fox Lake from Athens, take Union Street west to Ohio State Route 56 (this is a continuous roadway). From the
stoplight with Whites Mill Road (Ohio State Route 682), go 1.7 miles to Radford Road. Turn left on Radford and take it 1.25
miles to Baker Road. Turn right on Baker Road. Brown Road, for access to the dam, is a right turn at 1.25 miles, with the
dam parking area at 1.1 miles on Brown Road, while the upper end of the lake is reached at 2.0 miles on Baker Road. At this
point, turn right onto Fox Lake Road and go 0.7 mile to the parking area. Total distance from downtown Athens: 7.3 miles
(to upper end); 6.9 (to dam end).
Washington County
Acadia Cliffs Wildlife Area: 112 acres in Decatur Township, with a very small area in Rome Township, Athens County.
This is an area of beautiful cliffs and rock formations. The area includes an aborted millstone quarry, and visitors can still see
piles of round sandstone millstones in various stages of finishing. This area was originally acquired as a nature preserve was
established to protect populations of the state-listed Bradley's spleenwort (Asplenium bradleyi), an uncommon, small rock
fern that grows only on acid bluffs. This is the only nature preserve in southeast Ohio that is open to hunting. Acadia Cliffs is
completely undeveloped.
To reach Acadia Cliffs, take US-50 east 9.8 miles from OH-33 to OH-329. Turn left on 329 (there is a Marathon station
on the corner) and take it 2.4 miles to OH-144. Turn right on 144 and take it 2.6 miles to Jewell Hollow Road, Twp-189 (also
known here as Beebe Road). Turn left on Jewell Hollow and go 0.1 mile to the next intersection, and turn right on Beebe
Road, Co-109. Turn left at 0.5 mile to stay on Beebe Road. Go a total of 0.8 mile to the Washington County line (where
Beebe Road becomes Two Mile Run Road), and the area starts on the left side of the road, then begins on the right side at 1.0
mile. The area ends at about 1.4 miles. Total distance from downtown Athens: 17.1 miles.
Veto Lake: 462 acres in Dunham and Barlow Townships (official acreage is 433 acres). This area is not featured on the
Division of Wildlife’s website, but is, nonetheless, one of their properties. The property is mainly the 160-acre lake, with
minimal lakeside land area – but enough to provide a boat ramp and some picnic facilities. This lake is popular for fishing.
To reach Veto Lake, take US-50/OH-32 east about 30 miles from US-33 to OH-339 (when US-50 splits from OH-32, stay
on OH-32). Turn left (north) on OH-339 and go 4.2 miles to Veto Road (Co-3). Turn right and go 1.0 mile to Lake Road
(Twp-268). Turn left on Lake Road to the boat ramp, about a mile. Total distance from downtown Athens: about 38 miles.
Meigs County
Wilson Wetlands Wildlife Area (ODNR): 12.5 acres, Salisbury Twp, on OH State Rte 7, near Ohio River. No development.
Vinton County
Turkey Ridge Wildlife Area: 376 acres in Brown Township. One of the most recent acquisitions by the state Division of
Wildlife. It's not listed on any websites, but is located on the western edge of the Zaleski State Forest, and generally functions
as part of the state forest. There are no trails nor any other development on this property.
To reach Turkey Ridge, take OH-56 west 19.6 miles from OH-682 to OH-328. Turn left. The wildlife area is on the left
from about 4.2 to 5.1 miles from OH-56. Total distance from downtown Athens: 26 miles.
Superior Wildlife Area: 2,442 acres in Richland Township. Adjacent to the Richland Furnace State Forest (page 27). This
property is a cooperative project between the Division of Wildlife and the Superior Land Group, and is managed for timber
production. Current harvest areas are marked as off-limits. Like many of Ohio's wildlife areas, Superior Wildlife Area
consists of former coal-mining lands.
To reach Superior Wildlife Area, take US-50 31 miles west from US-33 at Athens to OH-683 west of McArthur in Vinton
County. Turn left on OH-683 and go 3.5 miles to Murphy Remy Road. Turn right on Murphy Remy Road and go 1.6 miles to
Township Road 13, Wilbur Road, which becomes Township Road 8. This road passes through the wildlife area from mile 0.0
to 0.5 and from mile 1.3 to Richland Furnace Road. Total distance from downtown Athens: 38 miles.
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Vinton Furnace Wildlife Area: 3,405 acres. Formerly part of REMA, the Raccoon (Creek) Ecological Management Area,
before that Mead-WestVaCo timber land. This area was purchased a few years ago by Ohio, when it was one of the largest
remaining consolidated tract of private forest land left in the state. The rest of the REMA area became the Vinton Furnace
Experimental Forest. This total area occupies much of the space between Ohio State Route 32 and US Route 50 in eastern
Vinton County, and is directly south of the Zaleski State Forest, which is very close to it at the closest point.
To reach Vinton Furnace, take OH-32 west from US-33 19.8 miles to OH-160. The wildlife area will be on the left from
about 0.6 to 5.2 miles from OH-32. Total distance from downtown Athens: 23 miles.
Morgan County
Wolf Creek Wildlife Area: 3,911 acres mostly in Union Township, small areas in Penn Township. Much of the land of Wolf
Creek Wildlife Area was originally purchased to create a flood-control dam, which was built around six decades ago. The
year after it was built, it was destroyed by a flash flood. The area has an archery range.
To reach Wolf Creek Wildlife Area, take OH-13 12.9 miles north from US-33 at Athens to OH-78 East, which is just after
Glouster. Turn right, or east, on OH-78 and go 12.2 miles to the main entrance, where the maintenance complex and archery
range are located. Total distance from downtown Athens: 27.5 miles.
Gallia County
Crown City Wildlife Area: 11,171 acres in Guyan and Harrison Townships, and also in Mason and Windsor Townships,
Lawrence County. This is the state's fifth-largest wildlife area, and is close to the Wayne National Forest, Ironton District.
This area was extensively stripmined in the past, and is today still only about two-thirds forest. Not developed.
To reach this area, take US-33 18.2 miles south from US-50 on the south side of Athens to OH-7. Take the exit ramp to
go west/south on OH-7. Take OH-7 25.3 miles south through Cheshire and Gallipolis to OH-218. Turn right on OH-218 and
go 8.6 miles to OH-790. Turn right on OH-790. You will pass into and out of the wildlife area several times from 1.6 to 5.3
miles. You can reach the interior via a network of county roads, including Sandersville Road, County Road 178, and
Scottown-Lecta Road, County Road 37 (turn left on either). Total distance from Athens: 56 + miles.
Samuels Wildlife Area: 83 acres in Morgan Township. One of the newest wildlife areas, split by OH-160. If you approach
the area from the west (by the directions), there is a stream valley paralleling the highway to your right.
To reach Samuels Wildlife Area, take OH-32 19 3/4 miles west from US-33 at Athens to OH-160 in Vinton County. Turn
left on OH-160 and go 15.3 miles, through the villages of Wilkesville (where the highway takes a right turn) and Vinton. The
wildlife area will be on both sides of the road for the next quarter-mile. Will Grey Road, Township Road 719, to the right,
goes through the area. Total distance from Athens: 38 miles.
Tycoon Lake Wildlife Area: 684 acres, 183-acre lake, in Raccoon Township. Tycoon Lake is a small wildlife area centered
around a lake. The land area is 684 acres, while the lake comprises 183 surface acres. As at Lake Alma, the lake was built on
an old meander of Raccoon Creek, and so required two dams. The lake is both relatively wide and relatively shallow.
To reach Tycoon Lake Wildlife Area, take OH-32 19 3/4 miles west from US-33 at Athens to OH-160 in Vinton County.
Turn left on OH-160 and go 13.2 miles, through the village of Wilkesville (where the highway takes a right turn) and into the
village of Vinton. In Vinton, turn right on OH-325 and go 2.4 miles to Woods Mill Road. Take a left on Woods Mill Road
and take it 0.6 mile to Deckard Road. Turn right on Deckard Road and go 0.9 mile to Eagle Road. Turn left on Eagle Road,
and you will enter the wildlife area after 1/3 mile. To reach the boat ramp, go on Eagle Road a total of 2/3 mile and turn right
on Tycoon Road. The road to the boat ramp will be on the right in one mile. Total distance from downtown Athens: 38 miles.
Jackson County
Cooper Hollow Wildlife Area: 5,421 acres in Madison and Bloomfield Townships. Features almost twenty miles of trails.
Symmes Creek and its tributary, Sugar Run, both pass through this wildlife area. Much of the area is savannah-like, with
many old fields. Regional wildlife offices are in this wildlife area, on County Road 2. The ruins of the Madison Iron Furnace
are near the offices.
To reach this area from Athens, take OH-32 west about 30.6 miles from US-33 to OH-327. Turn left on 327 and take it
7.1 miles south to US-35. Turn left on 35 and take it 6.5 miles east (south) to Moriah Road, Co-5. Turn right on Moriah,
which passes through the area. Once you have passed through the area, you can then turn right on Cooper Hollow Road,
Twp-119 at about 1.2 miles to re-enter the area. CH&D Road, Co-2, also passes through the area. Total distance from
downtown Athens: about 50 miles
Wellston Wildlife Area: 1,298 acres in Clinton and Richland Townships. This area is centered around 325-acre Lake
Rupert, which features a boat ramp. Around half the land area is forested, and most of it is quite hilly. This area is close to
Lake Alma State Park, Vinton Furnace Wildlife Area, Vinton Furnace Experimental Fores, Superior Wildlife Area, and
Richland Furnace State Forest.
To reach the Wellston Wildlife Area, take OH-32 west 20 miles from US-33 to OH-160. Turn right on OH-160 and go
10.0 miles, then turn right on OH-93 at the end of OH-160 in Hamden. Go ½ mile north to OH-683 and turn left. The area
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will be on the right from 0.4 - 3.0 miles, and on the left from 0.9 - 2.3 miles. Lake access areas can be accessed at 1.2 and 1.6
miles, and the boat ramp at 1.5 miles, all on the right. Another lake access can be reached by going 2.2 miles on OH-93 north
from OH-160, then turning left on T-25C, dead-ending in a parking area at 0.6 mile. Total distance from downtown Athens
to boat ramp: 34 miles.
Liberty Wildlife Area: 145 acres in Liberty Township. This area is completely undeveloped except for one roadside pull-off.
It is located at the southernmost end of the Blackhand sandstone, which forms the spectacular features of the Hocking Hills.
Dry Run passes through the area.
To reach this area, take OH-32 west 35.8 miles from US-33 to Jackson, to US-35. Take 35 north 9.5 miles to Savageville
Road, Co-26. Go west on Savageville 2.2 miles to Limerick Road, Co-25. Turn right on Limerick and go a very short distance
to Poplar Road, Twp-219. Turn left on Poplar Road 1.0 mile to Big Run Road, Twp-226, which borders the wildlife area at
about 1.2 to 1.5 miles from Poplar Road. Total distance from downtown Athens: About 52 miles.
Broken Aro and Flint Run Wildlife Area: 3,480 acres in Bloomfield and Milton Townships; adjacent to Buckeye Furnace
Mining Lands Public Hunting Area (1,034 acres; see p. 14). South of Ohio State Route 124 and east of State Route 327. This
area is undeveloped except for former logging roads. Tick Ridge, J C. Cobb and Tar Camp Roads all dead-end into this area.
To reach these, take OH-32 west 29 miles from US-33 to Hiram West Road, Co-38. Turn left, go 1.0 mile to OH-124.
Turn left on 124 and go just over 0.5 mile to the parking area on the right, across from Frank Smith Road, T-749.
Total distance from downtown Athens: About 32 miles.
Coalton Wildlife Area: 1,729 acres, Coal & Liberty Townships. Undeveloped except for public roads and old logging roads.
To reach this area, take OH-32 west 35.8 miles from US-33 to Jackson, to US-35. Take 35 north (to the right) 4.0 miles to
Chillicothe Pike, Co-84. Go south (to the left) 0.7 mile on the pike to Sunnydale Road, and turn left. Take Sunnydale Road
0.2 mile to Jackson Hill Road and turn left. Take Jackson Hill Road 0.9 mile to Raysville Road and turn left. Raysville Road
passes through the area. Total distance from downtown Athens: About 47 miles.
Ohio River Wildlife Access Areas
There are several small riverside areas that provide fishing access, all on the Ohio River. They are under the state
Division of Wildlife. These are listed north to south. Mileages are from the US-50/OH-7 junction at Coolville.
Ohio River Lock & Dam 18 Wildlife Access Area: 10.8 acres in Dunham and Warren Townships, Washington County, on
Ohio State Route 7. Shoreline access only, no on-site parking.18.5 miles north.
Ohio River Forked Run River Access: 49.6 acres in Olive Township, Meigs County, on Ohio State Route 124. Boat ramp,
parking, shoreline access. 14.9 miles south. Across the highway from Forked Run State Park.
Ohio River Shade River Access: 28.9 acres in Olive Township, Meigs County, on Ohio State Route 124. Limited parking
(may be closed in the near future), shoreline access. 17.4 miles south.
Portland Wildlife Access Area (Ohio River Lock & Dam 21): 11.5 acres in Lebanon Township, Meigs County, on
Township Road 69 (off Ohio State Route 124). Shoreline access only, limited parking. 21.7 miles south.
Apple Grove Wildlife Access Area (Ohio River Lock & Dam 23): 9.6 acres in Letart Township, Meigs County, on OH124. Small boat ramp, limited shoreline access, limited parking.
Ohio River Old Town Creek Wildlife Access Area: 35.2 acres in Lebanon Township, Meigs County, on Ohio State Route
124. Shoreline access, canoe/kayak launch. 28.8 miles south (best to take US-33 east to OH-124, turn right).
Ohio River Racine Wildlife Access Area: 18.4 acres in Sutton Township, Meigs County on Ohio State Route 7. Boat ramp,
parking, shoreline access. 43.1 miles south (best to take US-33 to OH-7 at Pomeroy and take OH-7 east to site).
K. H. Butler Wildlife Area: 10.2 acres in Ohio Township, Gallia County on Ohio State Route 7. Boat ramp, parking,
shoreline access. 86 miles south (best to take US-33 to OH-7 at Pomeroy and take OH-7 west to site).
State Memorials
Big Bottom State Memorial
This small area is on the banks of the Muskingum River in Morgan County, just southeast of the village of Stockport. It
commemorates a battle between settlers and Native Americans that took place at this site.
Buckeye Furnace State Memorial
Buckeye Furnace is a restored iron furnace. The site, in Milton Township in Jackson County, is developed as a museum and
inn. Take OH-32 19.8 miles west to OH-160, turn left and go 5.3 miles. Turn left on OH-124 in the village of Wilkesville and
go 8.2 miles. Turn left on Buckeye Furnace Road, Co-58, then go 2.3 miles and turn right on Buckeye Park Road, T-167.
Buffington Island State Memorial
Buffington Island is an island in the Ohio River, but this memorial is on the Ohio bank, at the community of Portland. It
commemorates a Civil War battle that took place on the island.
Leo Petroglyph State Memorial
This state memorial is centered around a small gorge in the blackhand sandstone in which are located 37 petroglyphs, or rock
art from ancient native Americans. The site is located in Jackson County, northwest of Lake Katharine State Nature Preserve.
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Other Open-Space Areas
Lake Snowden: 684 acres in Lee Township, Athens County, with a small area in
Alexander Township. This is a public-access lake and recreation area owned by Hocking
Technical College, with a 136-acre lake. It is named after Margaret Snowden, the first
woman settler in the Ohio Territory.
Lake Snowden was one of several lakes originally created by the Margaret Creek
Conservancy District for flood control in the Margaret Creek watershed. It became a source
reservoir for Le-Ax Water Company. Later, it was given to Hocking College to manage. In
the later years of President John Light's tenure, an attempt was made to create a private
residential enclave on the property, but that was legally prohibited.
Today, the lake features a small swimming beach, a boat ramp, five campground areas
with 125 sites, including a horse camp, horse/hiking trails, picnic grounds, an
environmental center, and a small camp store. The campgrounds are RV-friendly. The
county's champion cucumbertree magnolia (Magnolia acuminata) is located on the north
shore of the west branch of the lake, along the orange trail. The Ohio Pawpaw Festival is
held at Lake Snowden the second full weekend in September each year.
The main trail circles the lake, with some side trails, for a total of 9.5 miles. Most trails
Cucumbertree at Lake Snowden
are open to horses. The main trail is the orange trail, aka Lakeside Horse Trail, marked by
orange paint blazes and orange plastic diamonds. A full circuit of the lake on this trail is 7.1 miles, but requires use of park
roads for three-quarters of a mile. Outloops from this trail are blazed in blue. These are known as the Boundary Trail, because
it follows the park boundary. There is another short connector trail, the 0.3-mile "Green Trail." There are also two short footonly trails; the dam is also foot-only. The Lakeside Family Trail is 0.4 mile, and extends to the southwest from the dam’s
south end. The Red Family Trail is another loop-out from the orange trail just west of the horse camp, with another 0.7 mile.
The champion cucumbertree may be reached by hiking the orange trail clockwise from the horse camp for 1.9 miles.
To get to Lake Snowden, take US-50 west 6.5 miles from US-33 in Athens, and turn right into the park entrance. It is just
0.6 mile after the rest stop and 0.4 mile before the stoplight at Albany. Total distance from downtown Athens: 7 miles.
Lake Snowden
with forest overlay
The Ridges: About 420 acres in Athens Township, Athens County (open-space area), 490 acres total. The Ridges comprises
the grounds of the former Athens State Mental Hospital. The area includes a massive building complex on the east side, bu t
is otherwise mostly undeveloped. It is a popular spot for walkers, with a network of trails. Trails include the River Valley
Nature Trail, with a small parking area along Whites Mill Road (OH-682), and The Ridges Cemetery Nature Walk.
40
To reach the nature trail, take OH-682 west from Richland Ave 3/4 mile to parking pulloff on the left. To reach parking area for
other trails, take Richland Ave out to Dairy Lane (1st street past OH-682) and turn right. Parking area is 0.9 mile on the right.
City of Athens Parks: West State Street Park is also known as “Jaycee Fields.”
East State Street Park: Community center, skate park, tennis courts, soccer fields, ball field, playground, access to
Hockhocking Adena Bikeway, swimming pool
West State Street Park: Ballfields, canoe/kayak ramp, dog park, playground, shelters, access to Hockhocking Adena Bikeway
Highland Park: picnic shelter, playground
Southside Park: picnic shelters, miniature golf course, ball field, playground, access to trails at The Ridges
Sells Park: picnic facilities, trail head for Athens Trails - Strouds Run trail system; part of the Strouds Ridge Preserve system
Ferndale Park: This is a 62-acre park in Troy Township, Athens County. Facilities include ball fields, picnic shelter,
playground, restrooms, and a walking path. To reach Ferndale Park, take US-50 east 23 miles from US-33 on the east side of
Athens, to Torch Road, County Road 63. Turn left on Torch Road and go 0.6 mile to North Torch Road, County Road 62.
Turn left on North Torch Road and go a quarter-mile to the park entrance, on your left.
Total distance from downtown Athens: 25 miles
Trimble Township Community Forest: 1200 acres, Trimble Township, Athens County. This is a nature preserve property,
owned by the Appalachia Ohio Alliance, featuring trails and a land lab for Trimble local schools.
To reach the Trimble Township Community Forest, take OH-13 miles north from US-33 to OH-78 west in Glouster. Turn
left on OH-78 at the stoplight, and go 1.2 miles to Derthick Road, County Road 95. Turn left on Derthick Road and you will
enter the forest at about 0.1 mile (after the right turn). If you go straight on Derthick and over the hill, where it becomes
Taylor Ridge Road, the forest extends all the way to the end of Taylor Ridge Road at Goose Run Road.
Total distance from downtown Athens: 16 miles.
Clear Creek Metro Park: 5,080 acres in Good Hope Township, Hocking County and Madison Township, Fairfield County.
This is a park area owned by Columbus-Franklin County Metro Park District, on the northwest fringe of the Hocking Hills,
north of Cantwell Cliffs. The bluffs are lower than in the core of the area, but the park is nonetheless quite beautiful and
worthy of a day’s outing in its own right. A Campfire Girls camp borders the park. The park has a hiking trail system. Offtrail use of the park is prohibited except within 50 feet of Clear Creek itself.
Trails at Clear Creek Metro Park, central area
(Fern and Creekside Meadows Picnic Areas):
Cemetery Ridge Trail: 2.5 miles
Creekside Meadows Trail: 2 miles
Fern Trail: 2.1 miles
Hemlock Trail: 1.5 miles
Trails at Clear Creek Metro Park, western area
(Ironwood and Valley View Picnic Areas):
Lake Trail: 1 mile
Prairie Warbler Trail: 0.6 mile
Tuliptree Trail: 0.75 mile
Other Trails:
Chestnut Trail: 3 miles - connects the two above areas
Pet Trail: 1 mile; on a portion of the Chestnut Trail
To reach Clear Creek Metro Park, take US-33 west 32 miles from OH-550 at Athens to Clear Creek Road, County Road
116 (there is an abandoned Sunoco station on the corner on the left). Turn left, and go a short distance to enter the park. Go
about 2 miles for the Creekside Meadows Picnic Area, about 3 miles for the Fern Picnic Area, and about 5 miles to the turnoff
on the right for the Ironwood and Valley View Picnic Areas.
Total distance from downtown Athens: 35 miles.
The Wilds: Actually in Muskingum County, just outside this guide’s scope, but included because it is an exceptional feature.
It is a former strip-mine coal land that has been reclaimed and is being used as a vast outdoor zoo, with extensive free-range
habitat. Opened in 1994, it occupies about 9,140 acres, and extensively borders the AEP ReCreation Lands on the west and
south. The Wilds also offers a mountain-bike trail network. Yurts, cabins, and lodge rooms are available for rental.
740-638-5030; information@thewilds.org, www.thewilds.org; 14000 International Road, Cumberland, OH 43732.
To reach The Wilds, follow the directions under AEP ReCreation Lands for the bicycle trails, but continue going north on
OH-284 into Muskingum County.
AEP ReCreation Lands: AEP ReCreation Lands comprise 60,000 acres in northeast Morgan, Muskingum and Noble
Counties. This is former coal-mining land, reclaimed from strip-mining. They offer hunting, fishing, hiking trails, mountain
bike trails, horse trails, a dog-training area, and campgrounds. According to the AEP, around 300 campsites are available. A
free permit is required. The permit may be obtained via the website:
http://www.aep.com/environmental/recreation/recland
Permits are also available at state or regional AEP offices, from Division of Wildlife offices, or from sporting goods and
bait stores in the vicinity of the ReCreation Lands. Some areas may be posted as being off-limits. Please respect these
postings. Maps are available at the website.
These lands also host an off-road stretch of the BENCAD Trail almost 20 miles long. Miner’s Memorial Park is off OHAthens Area Outdoor Guide
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78 just before OH-83 and Windy Hill is off OH-83; these are both day-use areas only. Campgrounds are Sand Hollow and
Maple Grove, reached via OH-284; Hook Lake and Sawmill Road, both off OH-83; and Wood Grove and Bicentennial, both
on the BENCAD Trail. According to AEP, there are some 350 ponds and lakes, totaling about 1,500 acres of surface water.
There is also a horse camp in the horse area.
From the AEP website:
Hunters need only an Ohio Hunting License and their ReCreation Land Visitor's Permit.
Hunting is not permitted within 300 feet from the boundaries of the campground areas.
Hunting is not permitted in the active mining areas, on property which has been leased to others by AEP, or on other
AEP property outside the boundaries of ReCreation Land.
Groundhog hunting is prohibited.
Target shooting or practice is prohibited within all AEP ReCreation Areas.
Beaver trapping on AEP lands is controlled and requires a special Beaver Trapping Permit. For additional
information concerning beaver trapping, please send your name, address and telephone number to
American Electric Power, ReCreation Department, 59 West Main Street, McConnelsville, OH 43756
Horse trails include the Main Trail, Beaver Trail, Hornet Hill Trail, Licking Loop Trail, Tree Top Trail, Gas Line Trail,
and T & A Trail. All these trails connect to the main trailhead except for the Gas Line, Beaver and Licking Loop Trails.
To reach the ReCreation Lands, take OH-13 12.9 miles north from US-33 at Athens to OH-78 East, just after Glouster.
Turn right, (east) on OH-78 and go 19.8 miles where the highway crosses the Muskingum River, then turns right to combine
with OH-60 at McConnelsville. Go 0.6 mile on the combined road, then turn left in McConnelsville to continue on OH-78.
For the horse area, go 7.3 miles to Weaver’s Haul Road. Turn left on Weaver’s Haul, and go 1.9 miles to the horse area.
For the dog-training area, go 4.4 miles on OH-78 from the turn in McConnelsville to Carmel Ridge Road, Township Road
952. Turn left and take T-952 about 2 miles to the dog-training area. There are two other dog-training areas, one each in
Muskingum and Noble Counties.
For the mountain bike trail, go 9.0 miles on OH-78 from the turn in McConnelsville to OH-83. Turn left on OH-83, go 0.2
mile, and turn left on OH-284. Go 2.2 miles on OH-284 to Bristol Church Road, Township Road 944, and turn left. Go 0.9
mile on T-944 to Cloud Hollow Road, County Road 11. Turn right and go 1/4 mile to the trail.
For the Wood Grove Campground on the BENCAD Trail, go 15.5 miles on OH-78 from the turn in McConnelsville to
Wood Grove Road, County Road 27. Turn left on Wood Grove Road and go 0.6 mile to the camping area.
Total distance from downtown Athens to the horse trail area: 45 miles. To the dog-training area: 43 miles. To the bicycle
trail: 48.5 miles. To the Wood Grove Campground and Buckeye Trail: 52 miles.
AEP Gavin Power Plant Lands: 6,885 acres in Meigs and Gallia Counties. These lands are open for hunting by free permit
(see hunting section, page 13), and also feature a new horse camp and trail system, developed on an 850-acre tract in Meigs
County, about five miles east of Wilkesville. This trail system is still under construction, and is being developed by the Ohio
Horseman’s Council. See the previous entry, AEP ReCreation Lands, for other information about rules.
To reach the horse trails, take OH-32 19 ¾ miles west from US-33 at Athens to OH-160 in Vinton County. Turn left on
OH-160 and go 13.2 miles to OH-124 in the village of Wilkesville, then continue 6.2 miles on OH-124 to the trailhead, which
will be 0.1 mile on the right after a small bridge and curve just after the entrance to S. OH Coal Co. Meigs Mine 31.
Avondale Wildlife Area: 4,919 acres in Perry and Muskingum Counties, owned by AEP. This area is under lease to the Ohio
Division of Wildlife, and features 122 small lakes. Fishing, hunting and day hiking is permitted here. No camping; walk-in
only. A free recreational user’s permit is required, from the Division of Wildlife, 360 East State Street, Athens. Reached
from OH-345 or OH-669 in Perry County.
Hammertown Lake (Jackson City Reservoir): About 1,600 acres, with a 190-acre lake, just west of Jackson, in Liberty
Township, Jackson County. It has three boat ramps; electric motors only. A 15-mile horse trail is blazed in red.
To reach Hammertown Lake, take OH-32 west from OH-682 37.7 miles to OH-93, and turn right off the ramp. For the
main usage area south of the lake, go 0.7 mile to South Street, and turn left. This street becomes OH-139, OH-776, then West
Road, Co-10. Turn left after the railroad tracks and follow another 1.9 miles to Hammertown Reservoir Road, on the right,
which will take you into the usage area. For the east-side area, after crossing the railroad tracks, go straight instead of left.
For the north side of the lake, go 1.3 miles through Jackson to Bridge Street, County Road 76, where OH-93 takes a right
turn. Turn left (Bridge Street becomes State Street) and go 3.4 miles on Co-76 to Hammertown Road, T-349, and turn left.
Athens Conservancy Preserves: The Athens Conservancy has 5 preserves in Athens County: The Plains Preserve, 13.5 acres
on Johnson Road in The Plains; the Bluebell Preserve, 64.5 acres along the Hockhocking Adena Bikeway west of The Plains;
the Baker Preserve, 264 acres accessible from OH-690 ½ mile north of US-50; the Blair Preserve, 66 acres adjoining Strouds
Run State Park and accessible from the Trace Trail, and the Tucker Run Preserve, 50 acres also adjoining Strouds Run.
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Business Guide
Businesses that have supported this guide with their advertising have boxed listings. Please support them!
Private Campgrounds - Athens County
Meigs County
Carthage Gap Campground
740.667.3072; email@carthagegaprvpark.com
22575 Brimstone Road (Co. Rd 56), Coolville, OH 45723
135 electric RV sites
Indian Mound Campground
740.664.3525 New Marshfield 55 sites, RV friendly
Ketchum's Marina
740.667.3630; Fax: 740.667.6636; ketch@frognet.net
479 State Route 124, P.O. Box 55, Hockingport, OH 45739
100 non-electric RV sites
Wisteria, Inc.
740.742.4302; info@wisteria.org
39617 State Route 684, Pomeroy, OH 45769
by reservation for groups only; 165 sites non-electric
Gallia County
Equestrian Ridge
740-603-2523
26711 Pumpkin Ridge Road, New Plymouth, OH 45654
Happy Trails Horseback Rides
740.380.6372; markh@hthorsebackrides.com;
www.hthorsebackrides.com
25851 Big Pine Rd, Rockbridge, OH 43149
Hocking Valley Ranch
740.385.8361
Horse Lover Lodge
419.544.2146
Palmerosa Horseman’s Campground
740.385.3799
Smoke Rise Ranch
800.292.1732; smokeriseranch.com; smokerise@eurekanet.com
6571 Hunterdon Road, Glouster, OH 45732
Spotted Horse Ranch
740.332.7433
17325 Deffenbaugh Road, Laurelville, OH 43135
Three Reasons Farms Horse Camp
740.380.2729; www.hockinghills.com/threereasons
17599 Cream Ridge Road, Rockbridge, OH 43149
Uncle Buck's Riding Stable and Dance Barn
740.664.2428, 800.221.1122 (OH/bordering states)
www.unclebucksstable.com, info@unclebucksstable.com
73930 Buck Lane • New Marshfield, Oh 45766
Shawnee Village RV Park & Campground
Phone: 740.858.2409; Fax: 740.858.1930;
shawneevillage@sciotowireless.net
13610 U.S. Highway 52, West Portsmouth, OH 45663
100 sites (49 electric)
Hocking County
At Boulders Edge Tipi Retreat
740.385.0707; www.atbouldersedge.com
Campbell Cove Camping
740.385.2994
30775 Lake Logan Road. Logan, OH 43138
10 electric site, on Lake Logan
Happy Hills Campground
740.385.2994; www.happyhillsfunpark.com
22245 State Route 278 South, Nelsonville, OH 45764
Hocking Hills Campground
800.686.0386
Hocking Hills Canoe Livery Camping
740.385.0523; 800.634.6820
at Rempel’s Grove, 12789 State Rte 664 S, Logan, OH 43138
Hocking Hills KOA
740.385.4295, 800.562.0251; www.hockinghillskoa.com
29150 Pattor Road, Logan, OH 43138
Hocking River RV Park
740.331.4840, 866.966.1367
Resort at Blackjack Crossing
740.352.0312; blackjackcrossing.com
Scenic View Family Campground
740.385.4295; 866.592.6149; Fax: 740.385.8304;
camp@scenicviewfamilycampground.com
29150 Pattor Road, Logan, OH 43138
92 sites, 24 electric
Top O' The Caves
Reservations: 800.967.2434; reservations@topothecaves.com
26780 Chapel Ridge Rd, South Bloomingville, OH 43152
16 full hookup sites,, 9 electric-only Rv sites,, 100+ tent sites.
Jackson County
Lazy Dog Camp- Resort
740.384.3060; 800.282.2167; Fax: 740.384.4269;
noah@zoomnet.net; 80 sites electric
1527 McGiffins Road, P.O. Box 703, Jackson, OH 45640
Vinton County
Hawks Landing Retreat Center (formerly Niches)
740.596.4288; www.hawkslanding.biz
29361 Locust Grove Road, McArthur, OH 45651
Horse Camps and Riding Stables
Cabins, Cottages, and Lodges - Athens County
Lake Hills Cabins - 2 structures (7)
740.594.7296, 888.542.2246; www.lakehillcabins.com
Lake Hill Road, Athens, OH 45701
Spirit of the West Cabins - 1 structure (7)
740.385.6591
Stafford Hill Cabins - 1 structure (2)
740.438.0590
Wood Spirit Getaway - 1 structure (4)
740.593.5628, 877.593.5628
Hocking County
Acorn Acres Lodging - 2 structures (7)
740.385.7472; 888.995.8099
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Agape Ridge - 2 structures (4)
740.969.9816; 877.297.4037
American Heartland Cabins - 7 structures (8)
740.380.2418; 800.833.0262
Antlers Grove - 1 structure (8)
740.270.9621
Ash Ridge Cabins - 4 structures (6)
740.332.1015; 866.834.3447; www.ashridgecabins.com
Laurelville
Ashby Cabins - 2 structures (5)
740.927.4651; 888.486.9296; www.ashbycabins.com
At Boulders Edge - 3 structures (4)
740.385.0707
At Trails End - Cabins in Hocking Hills - 4 structures (14)
614.361.1981
Autumn Ridge Cabins - 4 structures (8)
also Barton Meadows - 1 structure (12)
740.385.6077; 888.340.3444
Barringer Ridge Cabins - 4 structures (12)
740.385.9770; 866.385.9770
Bear Run Inn Cabins & Cottages - 8 structures (12)
740.385.8007; 800.369.2937
Bear’s Den Cottage & lodge - 2 structures (2/10)
614.505.6437
Bella Luna Log Cabin - 1 structure (6)
614.571.8861
Bellevue Retreat & Cabins - 3 structures (9)
740.380.3400; 888.380.3401
A Bend in the Road Cabins - 2 structures (6)
740.385.6081; 866.658.2363; www.abendintheroadcabins.com
Bent Creek Cabins - 2 structures (2)
740.380.2994; 888.222.4674
Bentree Lodge - 1 structure (16)
740.385.9365; 866.857.6952
Best Nest Cabins - 3 structures (12)
740.385.4073; 800.213.8780
Beverly Hills Cabin - 2 structures (6)
740.596.3900; 877.282.2246
Big Maple Log Cabin - 1 structure (6)
740.887.3183
Big Pine Cabins - 1 structure (4)
740.385.5419
Big Pine Lodge - 1 structure (17)
740.549.2614
Big Pine Retreat - 3 structures (14)
740.380.6810; 866.474.5660
Bit of Country Cabins & B&B - 2 structures (8)
740.385.4910; 888.881.2572
Black Bear Getaway - 1 structure (4)
740.603.6881
Black Ridge Cabins - 3 structures (20)
614.327.1946
Blackberry Hill Cabin - 1 structure (7)
740.332.6322
Blue Rose Cabins - 9 structures (10)
800.426.6149
Bluebird Ridge Cottages - 2 structures (2)
740.385.0958; 877.754.2467
Brimstone Ridge - 1 structure (6)
740.412.3391
44
Buckeye Cabins - 4 structures (12)
614.638.6795; 800.344.3456
Buffalo Lodging Company - 3 structures (32)
740.808.3714
The Cabins at Clear Creek - 2 structures (8)
614.873.4424, 866.433.8818
Cabins at Hickory Ridge - 3 structures (12)
740.385.0615; 877.584.6637
Cabins by the Caves - 6 structures (10)
614.322.2283; 877.322.2283
Cabins in Hocking - 22 structures (27)
740.331.4840; 866.966.1367
Cabins in the Pines - 6 structures (10)
740.380.6670/ 800.551.6670
Cabins with a View - 1 structure (4)
419.351.3916
Campbell’s Hollow Cottages - 5 structures (6)
740.385.0662; 877.465.5697
Canterbury Cabins - 1 structure (5)
614.322.9192; 877.322.9192
Castaway Cabin - 1 structure (4)
740.385.5800; 866.389.2830
Cherry Ridge Retreat - 7 structures (4)
740.380.7777; 877.380.7771
Chestnut Grove Cabins - 3 structures (6)
740.332.7122; 866.332.7122
Clay-Bryn Castle - 1 structure (12)
740.385.1952; 800.763.1474
Clear Creek Ridge Cabins - 3 structures (14)
740.386.9365; 866.857.6952
Clover Retreats - 4 structures (6)
740.972.9054
A Cola View Cabin - 2 structures (6)
740.332.6982
Comfort in the Woods - 3 structures (5)
740.654.3853
Conner Homestead Lodge - 1 structure (14)
740.385.5872
Cool Bush Lodge - 1 structure (16)
740.385.9360
Corban Cabin Getaways - 1 structure (12)
614.863.3648
Cottage at Scenic Way - 1 structure (4)
740.596.1913; 888.892.8640
Cottages on the Ridge - 4 structures (6)
740.385.9795
Country Cottage - 1 structure (4)
740.332.8305, 800.213.8117
Creek’s Crossing Cabins - 2 structures (16)
740.739.7878
Crockett’s Run - 5 structures (20)
740.385.4740, 800.472.8115
Crooked Mile Cabin - 1 structure (4)
740.385.8485
Cut Above Cabins - 1 structure (8)
877.839.9983
Deer Ridge Cabin and Lake - 1 structure (2)
740.385.0472
Deer Run Manors - 3 structures (6)
740.380.2369, 877.296.1022
Deer Watch Cabins - 3 structures (2)
740.385.7132
Dewberry Cottages - 3 structures (4)
740.385.5713; www.dewberrycottages.com
Discover Hocking Hills - 4 structures (8)
740.385.5949
Dixie’s Getaway Cabin - 1 structure (2)
740.380.9758, 866.230.7278
Eagle Wings Lodge - 1 structure (20)
614.354.4313, 866.398.9206
Eagle’s Nest Cabins - 1 structure (6)
740.420.8920, 866.858.6096
Evergreen Place - 2 structures (5)
740.385.5892, 866.342.7771
EZ Living Cabins - 1 structure (8)
740.380.6541, 800.654.4307
Fawn Creek Retreat - 1 structure (6)
614.833.1776, 888.973.8732
Fernwood Log Cabin - 1 structure (4)
740.385.4630
Four Seasons Cabin Rental - 2 structures (6)
740.385.1687, 800.242.8453
4 Seasons Hideaways - 4 structures (14)
740.583.9771
Foxglove Lodge, Retreat & Cabin - 3 structures (20)
740.380.1245, 866.369.4568
Frontier Log Cabins - 4 structures (2)
740.332.6747, 866.369.4568
Getaway Cabins - 13 structures (8)
740.385.3734, 888.587.0659
Glenlaurel Scottish Inn - 19 structures (3)
740.385.4070, 800.809.7378
Good Earth Cabins - 18 structures (8)
740.385.3795
Grahams’ Walnut Valley Cabin - 1 structure (6)
740.746.8233
Grand Bentley Lodge - 1 structure (22)
614.873.4424, 866.433.8818
Grand Tara Lodge - 1 structure (24)
740.385.5657
Great Escape Cabins - 4 structures (6)
740.380.2606
Happy Hills Cabins - 4 structures (12)
740.385.6720
Harvest Moon Cottages - 5 structures (10)
740.380.1566, 866.212.8411
Haven Inn the Hills - 1 structure (14)
614.648.3000
Heart of the Country - 1 structure (4)
740.385.3382
Hem Loch Ridge Cabin - 1 structure (11)
614.206.1175
Hemlock Log Cabins - 2 structures (8)
740.974.4685
Heritage Cabin - 4 structures (15)
740.681.5689, 888.484.8104
Hickory Grove Cabins - 2 structures (6)
740.385.0700, 877.745.0040
Hidden Falls Retreat - 1 structure (6)
740.454.3237
Hidden Hills Log Cabins - 1 structure (6)
740.380.2804
Hidden Valley Cabin - 1 structure (4)
740.380.2606
Hiding Place Cabins - 2 structures (6)
614.322.9192, 877.322.9192
High Rock Hideaways - 7 structures (4)
740.385.9851, 888.385.9851
Hocking Hills Backwoods Retreat - 3 structures (4)
740.385.4171
Hocking Hills Cabins - 7 structures (6)
740.380.3322, 800.385.4161
Hocking Hills Country Vista Cabins - 3 structures (6)
740.385.3511, 877.972.2246
Hocking Hills Cozy Cabins - 3 structures (4)
740.332.1564, 800.249.1892
Hocking Hills Dreamscape Hideaway - 1 structure (6)
740.215.9875
Hocking Hills Homestead Lodging - 2 structures (8)
740.385.3795
Hocking Hills KOA - 3 structures (6)
740.385.4295, 800.562.0251
Hocking Hills Resort - 9 structures (10)
740.332.1902, 800.222.4655
Hocking Hills Serenity Cabins - 1 structure (6)
740.380.9998
Hocking Hills State Park - 40 structures (6)
740.385.6841, 866.644.6727
Honey Fork Run Cabins - 7 structures ( 8)
740.385.1952
Honey Ridge - 1 structure (4)
740.332.1364
Honeybee Cabins - 1 structure (6)
740.216.6393
Humm Inn Haven - 1 structure (16)
740.596.5599
Hummingbird Hill - 6 structures (12)
740.380.3242
Inn & Spa at Cedar Falls - 17 structures (6)
740.385.7489, 800.653.2557
Inn a Cabin - 2 structures (4)
740.596.5856
Innisfree Cabin - 1 structure (4)
740.216.0222
The Iris Villa - 1 structure (4)
740.380.6449
JD’s Cabins - 2 structures (9)
740.753.3249
Koinonia Cabin - 1 structure (2)
740.332.9541
Lake Logan Country Cottages - 6 structures (6)
740.503.1879
Lazy Lane Cabins - 31 structures (10)
740.385.3475, 877.225.6572
Liquid Light Center - 2 structures (6)
740.385.1384
Little Cola Cabins - 2 structures (4)
740.216.6173
Love Shack Cabins - 2 structures (2)
740.969.4127
45
Majestic Vacation Homes - 2 structures (6)
740.596.1900, 866.566.1900
Marsh Hollow - 1 structure (4)
740.332.9202
The Merlot - 1 structure (8)
740.412.8718
Mesa Vista Lodge - 1 structure (18)
740.380.9051
A Natural Place Cabins - 2 structures
740.332.8511; anaturalplacecabins.com
Nature’s Pointe Cabins - 5 structures (4)
614.837.0310, 800.456.3083
Nature’s Retreat Cabins - 2 structures (4)
740.332.6364
Nestled In Cabins & Cottages - 5 structures (6)
740.380.8965
Noah’s Ark Cabins - 1 structure (6)
740.385.6959
Old Man’s Cave Chalets - 50 structures (20)
740.385.6517, 800.762.9396
Old Man’s Haven - 4 structures (4)
740.380.2296, 800.274.5616
Persimmon Hill - 1 structure (4)
740.385.4536, 877.385.4536
Pleasant Valley Cabins - 2 structures (4)
740.380.6960
Queen Bee Cabins & Cottages - 1 structure (4)
740.655.3333, 866.633.1879
Red Rock Cabins - 3 structures (4)
614.276.9715
Red Wolf Falls Log Cabin - 1 structure (6)
330.494.2948
Restoration Retreat - 1 structure (4)
740.654.4501
Rushcreek Country Cabin - 1 structure (4)
740.569.0234, 888.569.0234
Rustic Ridge Retreat Cabins - 1 structure (8)
740.746.8146
Settle Down Cabin - 2 structures (6)
877.278.8926
Spirit of the West Cabins - 1 structure (7)
740.385.6591
Springwood Hocking Hills Cabins - 6 structures (8)
740.385.6143, 888.612.2246
A Stone Cottage - 1 structure (6)
614.557.2559
Studio in the Woods Accommodations - 2 structures (4)
740.332.6076, 877.788.3462
Summit Haven Retreat - 3 structures (6)
614.875.5167
Sunrise Log Cabins - 5 structures (12)
740.385.8722, 888.601.3085
Three Reasons Farms Cabin - 1 structure (6)
740.380.2729
Timber Creek Lodge - 1 structure (10)
740.415.3571
Top of the Hock - 1 structure (6)
740.548.4657
Tranquil Retreat Cabins - 3 structures (8)
740.596.5003, 877.274.2283
46
Turtle Hill Cabins - 2 structures (6)
740.363.0755
Two Trees Inn - 1 structure (12)
740.385.2628
Valley View Cabins - 14 structures (20)
740.746.8704, 888.222.4691
Wade with a Rose Log Cabin Getaway - 2 structures (2)
740.385.7532
WaterSong Woods Cabins - 2 structures (4)
740.380.6363, 877.966.3788
Way to Go Cabins - 1 structure (8)
740.369.3277
Whiskey Creek Cabins - 1 structure (11+)
937.477.2934
Vinton County
Brookside - 2 structures (14)
216.475.5325
Country Charm Lodging - 1 structure (6)
740.596.8748
Gingerbread Haus - 1 structure (8)
740.707.9738
Hawk’s Landing Retreat Center - 1 structure (4)
740.596.4288
Historic Host Vacation Rentals - 3 structures (10)
740.596.2408, 877.364.4786
Lily of the Valley Cabins - 1 structure (4)
740.775.1531
Oakwood Cabins - 4 structures (2)
740.596.2211, 877.596.2211
Plymouth Rock Cabins - 1 structure (4)
740.380.2910
Bed & Breakfast
Athens County
Bittersweet Farm Bed and Breakfast
740.664.6011
6070 Scott Rd, New Marshfield
Good Works, Inc. Country Bed and Breakfast
740/594-3336; http://www.good-works.net/B&B.htm
On Luhrig Road near Athens, OH
The Mead House
740.596-2408, 877.364.4786; historichost@gmail.com;
www.nelsonvillebedandbreakfast.com
138 Fort Street, Nelsonville, OH 45764
Sand Ridge B&B
740.797.4701; www.sandridgebandb.com,
info@sandridgebandb.com
10404 Sand Ridge Road, Athens, OH 45701
Hocking County
Thunder Ridge Cabins B&B
740.385.1386, 800.600.0584
Meigs County
The Carpenter Inn
800.644.2422; www.carpenterinn.com;
info@carpenterinn.com
39655 Carpenter-Dyesville Road, Carpenter, OH 45769
Vinton County
Ravenwood Castle
740.596.2606, 800.477.1541; www.ravenwoodcastle.com,
ravenwoodcastle@hughes.net
65666 Bethel Road, New Plymouth, OH 45654
Hotels & Motels - Athens County (all 740 area code)
Baymont Inn: 20 Home St., Athens, 564.3000
Budget Host Coach Inn: 100 Albany Rd, Athens, 594.2294
Carpenter Inn & Conference Center: 39655 CarpenterDyesville Rd, Carpenter, 698.2450
Days Inn: 330 Columbus Rd, Athens, 593.6655
Fullbrooks Lodge: 1149 SR 278, Nelsonville, 753.3391
Hampton Inn: 986 E. State St, Athens, 593.5600
Highlander Hotel: 420 W. Union St, Athens, 593.6449
Holiday Inn Express: 11 East Park Dr, Athens, 592.4640
The Inn at Hocking College: 15770 SR 691, Nelsonville,
753.3531
Ohio University Inn: 331 Richland Ave, Athens, 593.6661
Outfitters and Outings Leaders
Earth-Water-Rock Adventures
740.664.5220; www.ewroutdoors.com
Touch the Earth Adventures
Hocking Peaks Adventure Park
740. 592.2500, www.hockingpeaks.com/index.html
15103 State Route 664 South, Logan, Ohio 43138
ATV Tracks
Ohio ATV World
740.592.2500, 740.380.1775; ohioatvworld.com
15155 Sauerkraut Road, Logan, OH 43138
Fast Traxx Motoplex
740.767.3740, Fax: 740.767.3660; www.fasttraxxracing.com
shawnabickley@hotmail.com
5999 Warren Drive, Nelsonville, Ohio 45764
Wildwood Lake Raceway
740.331.5163, 989.2866, www.wildwoodlakeraceway.com
2392 Wildwood Lake Road, Little Hocking OH 45742-5072
Hospitals and Clinics
Athens County
Doctors Hospital at Nelsonville
740.753.7300
1950 Mount Saint Mary Drive, Nelsonville, Ohio 45764
O'Bleness Memorial Hospital
740.593.5551; obleness@obleness.org
55 Hospital Drive, Athens, Ohio 45701
Kayaking, hiking and retreats in Southeast Ohio and more!
740.591.9094; www.hockinghills.com/earthtouch;
mimi@eurekanet.com
Gallia County
Hocking Hills Adventure Trek
740.777.2579; trek@hockinghillsadventuretrek.com
www.hockinghillsadventuretrek.com
Hocking Valley Canoe Livery
800.686.0386; www.canoerental.com
31251 Chieftain Drive, Logan, OH 43138
Southeastern Ohio Kayaking
740.767.3780; cell 740.818.7885
http://s.o.kayaking.tripod.com; tony_mcnickle@yahoo.com
Hocking County
Holzer Health Systems
740.446.5000; info@holzer.org
100 Jackson Pike, Gallipolis, Ohio 45631
Hocking Valley Community Hospital
740.380.8000, 800.479.2351; www.hvch.org
601 State Route 664 North, Logan, OH
Jackson County
Holzer Medical Center Jackson
740.288.4625; info@holzer.org
500 Burlington Road, Jackson OH 45640
Washington County
Equipment
Athens Bicycle
Bicycles and supplies, “Where to Ride” on website
740.594.9944, 866.594.9944; http://athensbicycle.com;
pete@athensbicycle.com
4 W. Stimson Avenue, Athens, OH 45701
The Pedaler & The Packer
Diving, Bicycles, Climbing, Paintball, Skateboards
1-740-592-4630 or 1-888-9GO-DIVE;
http://www.pedaler.com; info@pedaler.com
432 Richland Avenue Athens, Ohio 45701
Athens Cycle Path
Bicycles and supplies, useful maps at store and at website
740.593.8482; http://www.athenscyclepath.com
104 West Union Street, Athens, Ohio 45701
Marietta Memorial Hospital
740.374.1400, Fax 740.374.1787
401 Matthew Street, Marietta, Ohio 45750
Selby General Hospital
740.568.2000
1106 Colegate Drive, Marietta, OH 45750
Zip Lines
Hocking Hills Canopy Tours
740.385.9477, www.hockinghillscanopytours.com
10714 Jackson Street, Rockbridge, Ohio 43149
47
Bibliography
Outdoor Recreation
NOTE: Most of the bicycle guides listed here DO NOT INCLUDE what are possibly the best mountain-biking areas in the state, in our area,
because the books were published before these trail systems were established.
Boyd, Wes. Following the North Country National Scenic Trail: A Trail Discussion, Third Edition. North Country Trail Association, Grand
Rapids, MI. 1999. 96 pages.
Buratti, James. Mountain Biking Ohio: A Guide to Singletrack Trails in the Buckeye State, 2nd Edition. Single Track Press, Columbus, OH.
2002. 96 pages. ISBN: 096575661.
Cross, Tom. Fishing Ohio: An Angler’s Guide to over 200 Fishing Spots in the Buckeye State. Lyons Press, Guilford, CT. 2008. 384 pages.
ISBN: 0762743263.
Dean, Tanya West, W. David Speas, and George W. Knepper, Editors. Along the Ohio Trail: A Short History of Ohio Lands, 3rd Edition. Ohio
Auditor of State, Columbus, OH. 2002. 89 pages.
Folzenlogen, Robert. Hiking Ohio: Scenic Trails of the Buckeye State. Willow Press, Glendale, OH. 1990. 173 pages. ISBN: 0962068527.
Kuhn, Ammemarie, Editor. Ohio Trails and Greenways: Edition III. Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, Ohio Field Office, Gahanna, OH.
2002. 227 pages. ISBN: 0972178201.
Lukei, Reese, Jr. Editor. The American Discovery Trail: Explorer’s Guide. Johnson Books, Boulder, CO. 1995. 128 pages. ISBN:
1555661351.
Minardi, Kay Wert. Short Bike Rides in Ohio. The Globe Pequot Press, Guilford, CT. 1998. 240 pages. ISBN: 0762702133.
Peacefull, Leonard. A Geography of Ohio. Kent State University Press, Kent, OH. 1996. 340 pages. ISBN: 087338525X.
Pond, Robert J. Follow the Blue Blazes: A Guide to Hiking Ohio’s Buckeye Trail. Ohio University Press, Athens, OH. 2003. 299 pages.
ISBN: 0821414895.
Quinley, Mary. 52 Ohio Weekends. Country Roads Press, Oaks, PA. 1999. 200 pages. ISBN: 1566261848..
Ramey, Ralph. Fifty Hikes in Ohio, 3rd Edition. Backcountry Publications, Woodstock, VT. 2007. 301 pages. ISBN: 0881507296.
Reed, Mary. Hiking Ohio: A Guide to Ohio’s Greatest Hiking Adventures. American Hiking Society, Globe Pequot Press, Guilford,
CT. 2003. 280 pages. ISBN: 0762724765.
Sanders, Randall E., Editor. A Guide to Ohio Streams. American Fisheries Society, Ohio Chapter, Columbus, OH. 2000.
Vincent, Adam. Mountain Bike America: Ohio: An Atlas of Ohio’s greatest Off-Road Bicycle Rides. Globe Pequot Press, Guilford,
CT. 2000. 256 pages. ISBN: 0762706996.
Weber, Art, Bill Bailey, and Jim DuFresne. Ohio State Parks Guidebook, Revised Edition. Glovebox Guidebooks of America, Saginaw,
MI. 2003. ISBN: 1881139263.
Zimmerman, George and Carol Zimmerman. Ohio: Off the Beaten Path, 12th Edition. Globe Pequot Press, Guilford, CT. 2009. 232 pages. ISBN:
0762750510.
Nature Guides
Audubon Field Guides, published by Alfred A. Knopf, New York. Note: These are selected volumes; list not inclusive.
Behler, John L. Field Guide to North American Reptiles & Amphibians. 1979. 744 pages. ISBN: 0394508246.
Bull, John and John Farrand, Jr. Field Guide to North American Birds, Eastern Region. 1977. 798 pages. ISBN: 0394414055.
Lincoff, Gary H. Field Guide to North American Mushrooms. 1981. 928 pages. ISBN: 0394519922.
Little, Edward L. Field Guide to North American Trees, Eastern Region. 1980. 714 pages. ISBN: 0394507606.
Milne, Lorus and Margery Milne. Field Guide to North American Insects & Spiders. 1980. 992 pages. ISBN: 0394507630.
Thieret, William, William A. Niering, and Nancy C. Olmstead. Field Guide to North American Wildflowers, Eastern Region, Rev.
Ed.. 2001. 879 pages. ISBN: 0375402322.
Pyle, Robert Michael. Field Guide to North American Butterflies. 1981. 928 pages. ISBN: 0394519140.
Sibley, David Allen. The Sibley Guide to Birds of Eastern North America. 2003. 432 pages. ISBN: 067945120X.
Whitaker, John O., Jr. National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Mammals, Rev. Ed. 1996. 992 pages. ISBN:
0679446311.
Williams, James D., and Carter R. Gilbert. National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Fishes. 2002. 896 pages.
ISBN-10: 0375412247.
Bosanko, Dave. Fish of Ohio: Field Guide. Adventure Publications, Cambridge, Minnesota. 2008. 192 pages, color drawings, waterproof.
ISBN: 1-59193-079-0.
Brandenburg, David M. Field Guide to Wildflowers of North America. Stewart Publishing, Inc., NY. 2010. 674 pages. ISBN: 9741402741548.
Braun, Emma Lucy. The Woody Plants of Ohio: Trees, Shrubs, and Wood Climbers: Native, Naturalized, and Escaped. Ohio State
University Press, Columbus, Ohio. 1989. 362 pages. ISBN: 081420497X.
Daniels, Jaret C. Butterflies of Ohio: Field Guide. Adventure Publications, Cambridge, MN. 2004. 344 pages. ISBN: 1-59193-056-1.
Dunn, Jon L., and Jonathan Alderfer. National Geographic Guide to the Birds of North America, 6th Edition. National Geographic
Society, Washington, DC. 2011. 576 pages. ISBN: 1426208286.
Gross, W. H. Ohio Wildlife Viewing Guide. Falcon Press, Helena, Montana. 1996. 96 pages. ISBN: 1560444916.
Hallowell, Anne E. and Barbara Hallowell. A Guide to Native Ferns of Northeastern and Central North America. Nature Study Guild,
Berkeley, CA. 1981. 59pages. ISBN: 0912550112.
Henn, Robert L. Wildflowers of Ohio, 2nd Edition. Quarry Books, Minneapolis, MN. 2008. 264 pages. ISBN: 0253219515.
48
Knouse, John A. Field Guides to the Strouds Run Area. Friends of Strouds Run State Park, Athens, Ohio.
1. Geology of the Strouds Run Area.
2. Spring Wildflowers of the Strouds Run Area.
3. Invasive Exotic Plants of the Strouds Run Area.
4. Ferns, Fern Allies, and Lycophytes of the Strouds Run Area.
5. Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines of the Strouds Run Area.
Lafferty, Michael B., Editor. Ohio’s Natural Heritage. The Ohio Academy of Science.
McCormac, James S., and Gregory Kennedy. Birds of Ohio. Lone Pine Publishing. 2004. 384 pages. ISBN: 1551053926.
Newcomb, Lawrence and Gordon Morrison (ill.). Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide. Little, Brown & Co. 1989. 490 pages. ISBN: 0316604429.
Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife, Columbus, Ohio. Note: These publications are available free of charge
from the Division of Wildlife.
204. Common Butterflies & Skippers of Ohio. Text by David K. Parshall, Horace B. Davidson and John T. Watts. 2005. 50 pp.
320. Common Dragonflies & Damselflies of Ohio. Text by Dave McShaffrey and Bob Glotzhober. 2007. 72 pages.
334. Sport Fish of Ohio: Identification. 47 pages.
344. Mammals of Ohio: A Field Guide. 2009. 71 pages.
348. Amphibians of Ohio: Field Guide. 2008. 47 pages.
349. Warblers of Ohio and Eastern North America: CD Guidebook. 2008. 70 pages, CD.
354. Reptiles of Ohio: Field Guide. 2008. 53 pages.
414. Common Birds of Ohio: CD Guidebook. 2009. 63 pages, CD.
418. Waterbirds of Ohio: CD Guidebook. 2009. 79 pages, CD.
423. Owls of Ohio: CD Guidebook. 2010. 63 pages, CD.
5127. Stream Fishes of Ohio: Field Guide. Text by Brian Zimmerman. 2011. 79 pages.
5410. Common Spiders of Ohio: Field Guide. Text by Richard A. Bradley. 2011. 79 pages.
Perine, Bill, and Dennis Profant. Trees, Shrubs and Vines of Southeastern Ohio and Appalachia, 3rd Edition. Published by the author,
Athens, OH. 2001. 272 pages.
Peterjohn, Bruce G. Birds of Ohio: with Ohio Breeding Bird Atlas, 2nd Edition. Wooster Book Co. 2001. 688 pages. ISBN: 1888683880.
Peterson Field Guide Series, published by Houghton-Mifflin Co., Boston, MA. Selected volumes; list not inclusive.
1. Peterson, Roger Tory. Birds of Eastern and Central North America, 6th Ed. 2010. 464 pp. ISBN: 0547152469.
2. Opler, Paul A., and Vichai Malikul (illustrator). Eastern Butterflies, 2nd Ed. 1998. 512 pages. ISBN: 0395904536.
5. Reid, Fiona. Mammals of North America, 4th Edition. 608 pages. 2006. ISBN: 0395935962.
7. Pough, Frederick H., and Jeffrey Scovil (photographer). Rocks and Minerals, 5th Ed. 1998. 416 pages. ISBN: 039591096X.
9. Murie, Olaus J., Mark Elbroch, and Roger Tory Peterson. Animal Tracks, 3rd Ed. 2005. 432 pages. ISBN: 061851743X.
10. Cobb, Boughton, Cheryl Lowe, and Elizabeth Farnsworth. Ferns, 2nd Ed: Northeastern and Central North America. 2005. 417 pages.
ISBN: 0618394060.
11. Petrides, George A, and Janet Wehr (ill.). Eastern Trees and Shrubs. 1998. 448 pages. ISBN: 0395904552.
12. Conant, Roger, Joseph T. Collins, Isabelle Hunt Conant , Tom R. Johnson, and Suzanne L. Collins. Reptiles and Amphibians of
Eastern and Central North America, 4th Ed. 1998. 640 pages. ISBN: 0395904528.
17. Peterson, Roger Tory, and Margaret McKenny. Wildflowers of Northeast and North-Central North America, Rev. Ed. 1998. 448 pages.
ISBN: 0395911729.
19. Borror, Donald J., and Richard E. White. Insects of America N. of Mexico, 2nd Ed. 1998. 416 pages. ISBN: 0395911702.
21. Harrison, Hal H. Birds’ Nests (Found East of the Mississippi River).
23. Peterson, Lee Allen, and Roger Tory Peterson. Edible Wild Plants of Eastern and Central North America. 352 pages. 1999. ISBN:
039592622X.
29. White. Beetles. See entry under White, Richard E.
30. Covell, Charles V. Moths, 2nd Ed. 1984. 160 pages. ISBN: 0395361001..
34. McKnight, Kent H., and Vera B. McKnight. Mushrooms, Rev. Ed. 1998. 448 pages. ISBN: 0395910900.
35. Clark, William S. And Brian K. Wheeler. Hawks of North America, 2nd Ed. 2011. 304 pages. ISBN: 0395670683.
37. Kircher, John C., and Gordon Morrison (ill.). Ecology of Eastern Forests. 1998. 512 pages. ISBN: 0395928958.
38. Walton, Richard K., and Robert W. Lawson. Birding by Ear: Eastern and Central. CD. 2002. ISBN: 0618205900.
40. Foster, Steven, and James A. Duke. Medicinal Plants. 432 pages. 1999. ISBN: 0395988144.
42. Page, Lawrence M., Eugene C. Beckham, Roger Tory Peterson, John P. Sherrod (ill.), and Craig Wayne Ronto (ill.). Freshwater
Fishes (North America North of Mexico). 1991. 544 pages. ISBN: 0395539331.
46. Foster, and Caras. Venomous Animals and Poisonous Plants, Exp. Ed. 1998. 336 pages. ISBN: 039593608X.
Snider, Jerry A., and Barbara K. Andreas. A Catalog and Atlas of the Mosses of Ohio. Ohio Biological Survey, Columbus, OH. 1996.
105 pages. ISBN: 0867271159.
Stokes, Donald, and Lillian Stokes. Stokes Field Guide to the Birds of North America: Eastern Region. Little, Brown & Co. 1996. 410
pages. ISBN: 0316818097.
Tekiela, Stan. Birds of Ohio: Field Guide, 2nd Ed. Adventure Publns, Cambridge, MN. 2004. 273 pages. ISBN: 159193060X.
Tekiela, Stan. Trees of Ohio: Field Guide. Adventure Publications, Cambridge, MN. 2004. 256 pages. ISBN: 1591930464.
Tekiela, Stan. Wildflowers of Ohio: Field Guide. Adventure Pubs, Cambridge, MN. 2001. 410 pages. ISBN: 1885061374.
White, Richard E. A Field Guide to the Beetles, 2nd Edition. Virginia Museum of Natural History, Richmond, Virginia (originally
Peterson field guide #29). 2005. 518 pages. ISBN: 1884540217.
49
Index
SP=state park; SF=state forest; SWA=wildlife area; SNP=state nature preserve. Numbers in parentheses key to index map º
Acadia Cliffs Wildlife Area (1)
37
AEP lands
13, 41, 42
American Discovery Trail
8
Apple Grove SWA
39
APV/ATV trails
10
Ash Cave (2)
31, 32
Athens Trail
8, 28, 34, 41
Avondale Wildlife Area
42
Baker Tract (3)
10, 16, 28, 42
Belleville Lake (Ohio River)
16-19
BENCAD Trail
8
Bikeways
4, 5, 22, 41
Biking trails
5
Blair Preserve (4)
m1, 12, 28, 42
Bluebell Preserve (5)
42
Boat ramps
15-19, 39
Boord SNP (6)
35
Boulder Cove
20
Bouldering
20
Broken Aro Wildlife Area (7)
39
Buckeye Furnace Mining Lands (8) 39
Buckeye Furnace State Memorial
39
Buckeye Loop (Burr Oak SP)
m2, 29
Buckeye Trail
8
Burr Oak Backpacking Trail
9, 29
Burr Oak Cove Campground (9)
23
Burr Oak State Park (10)
m2, 28
Butler SWA
39
Camp Oyo
24
Camping
12
Canoeing
14
Cantwell Cliffs (11)
31
Cedar Falls (12)
31
Clear Creek Metro Park (13)
41
Climbing
20
Coalton Wildlife Area (14)
39
Compass Plant Prairie SNP (15)
35
Conkles Hollow SNP (16)
35
Coolville Boat Ramp
18
Cooper Hollow Wildlife Area (17)
38
Copperhead Point
20
Covered Bridge Scenic Byway Camps 12
Crown City Wildlife Area (18)
38
Crumley Ridge
20
Dale & Jackie Riddle SNP (19) m1, 34
Dean State Forest (20)
26
Desonier SNP (44)
34
Disc Golf
22
Dow Lake
28
East State Street Park
41
Equestrian trails
8
Fishing
19, 22, 39
Flint Run Wildlife Area (21)
39
Forked Run State Park (22)
29, m31
Fox Lake Wildlife Area (23)
37
Gavin Plant Lands (24)
42
Geocaching
12
Gifford State Forest (25)
27
Gorge Rim Trail (Hocking Hills)
32
50
Grandma Gatewood Trail
32
Hammertown Reservoir (82)
19, 42
Haught Run Campground (26)
12
Highland Park
41
Hiking trails
6
Hockhocking Adena Bikeway (27) 4, 5
Hocking Hills Bypass Trail
32
Hocking Hills State Park (28) 31, m33
Hocking River Water Trail
16
Hocking State Forest (29) m11, 21, 25
Hope Furnace
29
Horse trails
8
Hune Bridge Campground (30)
12
Jackson City Reservoir
19, 42
Jackson Lake State Park (31)
34
K. H. Butler SWA
39
Kayaking
14
Kessler Swamp SNP (32)
35
Kinderhook Horse Trail (33) 5, 10, 24
Lake Alma State Park (34)
34
Lake Hope State Park (35)
29, m30
Lake Katharine SNP (36)
35
Lake Logan State Park
34
Lakeside Trail (Burr Oak)
m2, 29
Lake Snowden (38)
40
Lake Vesuvius Horse Trail
10
Lake Vesuvius Rec. Area (39)
21, 24
Lakeview Trail (Burr Oak)
m2, 29
Lakeview Trail (Strouds Run)
m1, 28
Lamping Homestead Campgrnd (40) 12
Lane Farm Campground (41)
12
Leith Run Recreation Site (42)
12
Liberty Wildlife Area (43)
39
Little Muskingum River Water Trail 16
Little Rocky Hollow SNP
25
Logan Boy Scout Trail (Tar Hollow) 33
Marie J. Desonier SNP (44)
34
Moonville Rail-Trail (45)
5, 10, 24
Mountain biking trails
5
Muskingum River Water Trail
14
Nature study
22
North Country National Scenic Trail 8
O’Dowd Wildlife Area (73)
36
Ohio River
17, 39
Old Man’s Cave (46)
32
Ora E. Anderson Prairie (15)
35
Orienteering
12
Perry State Forest (47)
26
Picnicking
10
Portland SWA
39
Poston Plant Lands (48)
13
Raccoon Creek Water Trail
15
Raccoon Ecological Mgmt Area 25, 38
Racine Lake (Ohio River)
18
Racine SWA
39
Rappeling
20
ReCreation Lands (49)
41
REMA
25, 38
Richland Furnace State Forest (50) 27
Riddle State Nature Preserve (19) m1,34
The Ridges (51)
40, 41
Ring Mill Campground (52)
12
Rock Bridge SNP (53)
35
Rock climbing
20
Rock Climbing Area (Hocking) (54) 21
Rockhouse (Hocking Hills SP) (55) 34
Rockhouse Trail
8, 19, 20, 21, 38
Salt Creek Water Trail
17
Samuels Wildlife Area (56)
38
Sand Run Picnic Area (57)
23
Sells Park (58)
m1, 28, 34, 41
Shade River State Forest (59)
26, 29
Shawnee Backpacking Trail
6, 8, 24
Shawnee State Forest
24
Shawnee State Park
24
Sheick Hollow SNP
25
Southside Park
41
Stone Church Horse Trail (60) 13, 23, 24
Strouds Ridge Pres. (61) m1, 27, 34, 41
Strouds Run State Park (62)
m1, 27
Sunday Creek Wildlife Area
36
Superior Wildlife Area (63)
37
Symmes Creek Water Trail`
17
Tar Hollow Horse Trails
10, 13, 25
Tar Hollow State Forest (64)
25
Tar Hollow State Park (65)
33
The Ridges (51)
40, 41
The Wilds (79)
41
Timbre Ridge Lake (66)
18, 24
Tom Jenkins Dam
23
Trailer Park
20
Trails
4
Trimble Twp Community Forest (67) 41
Trimble Wildlife Area
36
Tucker Run Preserve
42
Turkey Ridge Wildlife Area (68)
37
Tycoon Lake
18, 38
Tycoon Lake Wildlife Area (69)
38
Utah Ridge Picnic Area
23
Veto Lake
18, 37
Veto Lake Wildlife Area (70)
37
Vinton Furnace Exper. Forest (71)
25
Vinton Furnace Wildlife Area (72)
38
Wallace H. O’Dowd SWA (73)
36
Waterloo State Forest (74)
25
Waterloo Wildlife Research Sta. (75) 36
Water trails
14
Wayne NF (76) 6,8,10,12,21,22,23, 36
Wellston Wildlife Area (77)
38
West State Street Park
41
Wildcat Hollow Trail (78)
6, m7
Wilson Wetlands SWA
37
The Wilds (79)
41
Witch’s Hill
20
Wolf Creek Wildlife Area (80)
38
Zaleski Backpacking Trail
8, 24, 29
Zaleski Horse Trails
m9, 10
Zaleski State Forest (81)
24, 25
51
e map correspond to numbers in parentheses in the index.
52
55

Print version of Athens Outdoor Guide

Transcription

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